KING CAKE AND GRAVE MISTAKES

A Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery

By

Amber Crewes

Published by Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing in 2019

All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright © Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

CONTENTS

About King Cake and Grave Mistakes

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Thank You!

ALSO BY AMBER CREWES

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About King Cake and Grave Mistakes

Released: January, 2019

Series: Book 11 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series

Standalone: Yes

Cliff-hanger: No

A spate of muggings. A murdered victim. Can a small town bakery owner solve the case before the killer ending?

Meghan Truman has cornered the desserts market in the Pacific Northwest. With her twin poodles by her side, the once-upon-a-time newbie in town is set to grow her mini empire. But Meghan has a real-life murder mystery on her hands when a pampering party for a famous painter ends with the demise of a guest.

How could a girly night of fun and laughter with some tasty nibbles end on such a sour note? 

As Meghan continues her investigation, she discovers one common denominator links all the suspects on her list: their relationship to the famous painter...plus their consumption of her king cake!

With her boyfriend, handsome detective Jack Irvin out of town, will Meghan discover the mistakes the killer made to link them to the murder?

THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS BOOK IN THE SANDY BAY COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHY DON’T YOU SIGN UP FOR UPDATES AND GET THE PREQUEL STORY SENT TO YOU FOR FREE

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1

It was a dull, dark evening in January, and twenty-seven year old Meghan Truman was fighting a serious case of the winter blues. Nearly three weeks into the New Year, the novelty of the holiday season had worn off, and Meghan’s life in Sandy Bay, a small town in the Pacific Northwest, felt drab and dreary. Meghan’s professional life was booming; as the sole owner of Truly Sweet, a quaint bakery that had gained enormous popularity over the last few months, Meghan could hardly keep up with the incoming requests for treats, and the new sets of corporate orders seeming to pour in each day.

“I need to do something to perk myself up,” Meghan thought to herself as she scrubbed the front counter of the bakery. “I’ve felt down in the dumps for the last few days. I wish I could call Jack.”

Meghan’s heart sank at the thought of her tall, handsome boyfriend, Jack Irvin. With his blonde hair and bright blue eyes, Meghan swooned every time she looked at him. Jack was a detective, and for the next two weeks, he was out of town in New Orleans for a special training. Meghan had anticipated his time away would feel fast; her schedule was so busy, and she hardly had time for herself. Yet, while Jack had been gone for only two days, it had felt like two years.

Meghan glanced out at the gloomy night. The thick snow covering the town had melted into a gray mess, and the bitter winter sea gusts cut through Meghan’s coat every time she stepped outside. She longed for the mild winters of Los Angeles, the city she had lived in before moving to Sandy Bay, and even more, she desperately ached for the hot, humid winters of Texas, the state where she had grown up.

Suddenly, Meghan looked over at the bulletin board next to the rack of aprons and was struck with inspiration. Pinned to the board was a pamphlet from the salon in town, owned by her good friend, Jackie. Meghan remembered that Jackie was hosting late-night salon hours this week as a January special, and she grinned. She had sent her employees home hours ago, and after finishing her preparations for the next day, Meghan knew it was time to leave the bakery for the night. She looked down at her hands. Meghan’s palms were calloused from hours of kneading dough, her fingers had small abrasions from dicing fruit, and her cuticles were wild and overgrown. “I know what I’m going to do,” Meghan exclaimed as she examined her rough hands. “I’m going to get a manicure at Jackie’s. I’ll be right in time to catch her late night hours, and my hands could use some pampering. Everyone is gone for the night, my work is finished, and I think it’s time to take care of myself.

Twenty minutes later, Meghan skipped into the Sandy Bay salon owned by her good friend, Jackie. Meghan hadn’t dressed up and had hastily thrown her long, dark hair into a messy bun, unaware of how upscale Jackie’s clientele would be. It wasn’t until she looked down at the floor in the waiting area and saw designer bag after designer bag perched next to their glamorous owners.

“Maybe I should have showered before leaving the bakery,” Meghan thought as she peered at the other guests lounging in the waiting area. “That woman is dripping in jewelry, and that man over there has shoes that must have cost him a fortune. I hope I don’t embarrass Jackie with my messy hair and sweatpants; it looks like the people in here are way fancier than I expected.”

Meghan fidgeted in her seat as she surveyed the waiting area. The spacious room was lit by three sparkling chandeliers, and the white tile floors were covered with Persian rugs. A fountain in the corner held several large, exotic-looking fish, and the receptionist’s desk was made from what appeared to be crystal.

“Jackie never mentioned how nice this place has gotten,” Meghan grumbled as a lithe, blonde woman glided into the salon.

“Meghan!”

Meghan smiled weakly as Jackie appeared. “Thanks for squeezing me in, Jackie,” Meghan told her friend as Jackie kissed her on both cheeks. “The salon looks amazing, Jackie. When did it become so classy?”

Jackie shrugged. “My internet-based business coach, Donna, suggested that I spruce things up a little,” she explained to Meghan. “Donna thinks I should create an atmosphere for the clients I want, and the clients I want have a lot of money,” she whispered to Meghan. “During the holidays, I had some spare time, and I decided to do a little shopping to make this place shine.”

Meghan’s eyes widened. “It looks like you did more than a little shopping,” she laughed nervously as Jackie led her back to the manicure room. “This place looks so nice. I don’t think I’m dressed well enough to even breathe the air here, Jackie.”

Jackie shook her head. “Enough of that kind of talk, Meghan,” she chided. “You are a friend of mine, and you belong here. Come sit! I have just enough time to give you a fabulous new color and nail shape before my next appointment arrives. Oh, Meghan, I am so glad you called. I’ve been dying to get my hands on your nails.”

“This is just what I needed,” Meghan admitted as she settled into the plush red chair in front of the manicure station.

“Good,” Jackie agreed as she glanced down at her rose gold watch. “Yikes. Meghan, I have another client scheduled for eyelash extensions that I completely forgot about. I’m going to have my two assistants start taking care of you. Dolly? Polly?”

Two identical brunette girls appeared by Jackie’s side. They looked young--Meghan guessed they were in their early twenties--and Meghan could not tell them apart.

“Meghan, these are my assistants, Dolly and Polly. They are new to the salon, but I hope they give you the best experience. I know they will, right girls?”

The two girls nodded, and Meghan smiled warmly at them. “It’s fine,’ she told Jackie. “We’ll be fine.”

Jackie scurried off, and Dolly lifted Meghan’s left hand into a small silver bowl while Polly moved Meghan’s right hand into a matching silver bowl. They worked in sync, both moving and breathing at the same pace. Meghan was mesmerized by their precision, and she stared as the twins pampered her.

“Meghan? You doing okay?”

Meghan’s body jerked as she heard Jackie’s voice. She realized she had been sleeping; she was so relaxed as the twins did her nails that she had drifted off to sleep.

“I’m good,” she sleepily said to Jackie. “This is so cozy; the twins are doing a great job.”

“What color did you pick?” Jackie asked.

Polly held up a bottle of the Josie Posie polish. “She selected this Josie Posie pink,” Polly told Jackie.

“I think Jack will like it,” Meghan gushed. “He always compliments me when I wear pink.”

Jackie winked. “I think you’re right. Ugh, Meghan, I have to run. I have to get over to the other manicure station. One of my clients is being a little...demanding...so I am going to go relieve my other assistant. I just wanted to check on you.”

Meghan grinned. “Hey, I’m an easy client,” she joked with her friend. “Just let the twins take care of me, and I will float on out of here.”

Meghan smiled at the twins as Jackie flew away. “I really miss my boyfriend,” she confided in them. “He’s been gone a few days, and I’m a little lonely.”

Before the twins could respond, Meghan heard a screech. “Seriously? You seriously think it is acceptable to leave my nails looking like that? This color is atrocious. It looks like a circus clown stuck his hands into a tomato patch. I can’t believe this is the quality of the service here.”

Meghan looked over her shoulder to see Jackie forcing herself to smile. “Rosie, my assistant simply didn’t pair the color correctly. I am happy to give you a new color and comp it. My treat.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. Rosie, the woman who had screeched, looked glamorous. She had sharp features, with a pointed nose and bold jawline, and white blonde hair cut bluntly just above her collarbone. She was dressed in white leather pants, a black cashmere turtleneck, and matching white heeled boots.

“I don’t have the time to wait for another color, Jackie,” Rosie complained. “I’m meeting my boss for dinner in twenty minutes.”

Meghan watched as Jackie bent down beside Rosie and began to work. “Just give me ten minutes, Rosie, and I’ll have you out of here.”

True to her word, ten minutes later, Rosie was beaming and kissing Jackie on the cheek as she rose from her chair and examined her nails. “Thank you, I owe you one,” Rosie cooed as Jackie grinned.

“It’s really no problem,” Jackie assured Rosie as she escorted her to the waiting area. “I apologize my assistant did not deliver on the color you desired.”

“Well, you fixed it so promptly that I have nearly forgotten all about it,” Rosie said with a wink. “But really, I owe you one, Jackie. I’ll see you next week for my appointment.”

As Rosie sashayed out the door of the salon, Meghan gestured for Jackie to come over. Meghan’s hands were deep in a dryer, and she was eager to hear about Jackie’s customer. “Who was that?” Meghan asked. “Is she local? I’ve never seen her in town before.”

Jackie rolled her eyes. “She’s the personal assistant to someone important...I have to admit though, I’ve always tuned her out whenever she starts bragging about her job.

Meghan nodded. “Got it. She seemed like a real piece of work,” she said.

Jackie laughed. “You have no idea.”

Later that evening, after Jackie closed up the salon, she asked Meghan if she would run some errands with her. “We haven’t gotten to catch up since New Year’s,” Jackie lamented. “Hop in my car and chat with me. I only have a few places to go, and it would be nice to have someone to talk with.”

Meghan agreed, and she accompanied Jackie on her errands. They visited the grocery, the pharmacy, and the library, happily chatting as they made their purchases.

“Can I ask you a question?” Jackie asked as they headed toward the post office.

“Of course,” Meghan replied.

Jackie took a deep breath. “How did you really get your business off of the ground, Meghan?”

Meghan cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”

Jackie bit her lip. “Well, things are on the up and up with the salon, but I want to really rock it. How did you do it with your bakery? Things were slow for you, and then they just took off.”

Meghan shrugged. “It was the corporate orders,” she admitted. “I love serving the people of Sandy Bay, but when I started catering for several of the big companies, I really saw the dollar pour in.”

Jackie nodded. “I’m hoping some slam dunk client wanders in sooner than later,” she sighed. “Someone rolling in the dough, you know?”

Jackie slammed on the brakes. “Hey!” she screamed, narrowly avoiding a pedestrian who had darted in front of the car. “Watch where you are going.”

Meghan’s heart was pounding. “What was she doing?”

Jackie glared as the female pedestrian scurried inside of the post office “People are so careless. She was probably on her phone, distracted.”

Both women unbuckled their seatbelts, Meghan’s heart still beating rapidly as Jackie turned off the car.

“Last stop,” Jackie declared. “This will be a quick stop, I promise.”

As Meghan and Jackie walked into the post office, Meghan gasped. “Jackie,” she whispered. “Isn’t that Rosie? From the salon?”

“Oh goodness,” Jackie muttered. “It is. We have to say hi, even though I don’t feel like dealing with her again.”

“Darling Jackie!”

Meghan watched Jackie paste a smile on her face as Rosie spotted Jackie.

“Hello, Rosie,” Jackie said. “Good to see you.”

Meghan noticed a woman in sunglasses behind Rosie. The woman had waist-length sandy hair, and wore a long pink coat. She was curvy, and her expensive outfit made her look womanly and beautiful. It was the same woman who had darted in front of Jackie’s car only moments before.

“Jackie, Jackie’s friend, this is the esteemed Mariah Cooper,” Rosie said as the woman in sunglasses nodded at them. “She is an artist, and my dearest friend.”

Meghan watched as Jackie’s jaw dropped. “Mariah Cooper? The Mariah Cooper?”

Mariah Cooper pushed her sunglasses atop her head and nodded. “Yes, Mariah Cooper,” she said coolly. “I believe you almost ran me over out there?”

“I...I….I’m so sorry,” Jackie sputtered. “I didn’t realize it was you.”

Meghan saw the desperation in Jackie’s face. Hoping to ease the tension, she smiled and reached out her hand. “Nice to meet you,” she said. “I’m Jackie’s friend, Meghan. Mariah, I hear you are a great painter and sculptor.”

Mariah turned up her nose as Rosie shook her head. “She isn’t just a great painter and sculptor,” Rosie informed Meghan. “Her work is iconic. She is only twenty-seven years old, and her work is being featured at the Winter Olympics next year. She is internationally acclaimed.”

Meghan playfully shrugged. “Does she ever speak for herself?”

Rosie’s jaw dropped. “I don’t think you understand,” she said dismissively. “Mariah doesn’t just talk to anyone. She is famous.”

Jackie gently pushed Meghan behind her. “Meghan is just being silly,” she said apologetically. “She is a jokester. Anyway, Rosie, Mariah, it was a pleasure. We must be going.”

As Jackie and Meghan walked out of the post office, Jackie hissed at Meghan. “You could have jeopardized my business with Rosie with your sass.”

Meghan bit her lip. “I was just trying to get them to get over themselves,” she said. “I know that type, and they seemed so stuck up.”

Jackie scowled. “That wasn’t your place. You should just play it good next time, Meghan, if you know what’s good for you. Mariah Cooper could be that slam dunk client I’ve been hoping for!”

2

The next morning, Jackie called Meghan on her cell phone. Meghan felt nervous when she saw Jackie’s name on the screen, but she knew they needed to talk; Meghan felt bad about embarrassing Jackie in front of Rosie and Mariah, and she wanted to make things up to her friend.

“It’s me,” Jackie said as Meghan answered the phone. “I have some amazing news. I had to tell you!”

Meghan sighed in relief, thankful that Jackie was not angry with her. “What’s up, Jackie?”

“Last night, after I dropped you off, Rosie texted me,” she explained breathlessly. “She was telling me more about Mariah’s Olympic display--bragging really--and she asked if I could arrange a day of pampering for everyone involved with her last exhibition! Rosie said that Mariah wants to thank everyone who helped her win the Olympics gig, and she thinks that my salon could be a perfect place for Mariah’s entourage to spend the day.”

“That’s incredible,” Meghan told her friend. “What a boost for business.”

“That’s the thing,” she squealed. “Rosie gave me an estimate for what they plan to pay, and Meghan, it’s more than I’ve made in the last two years...for just a day of work. Can you believe it? I could go to London, or Paris, or Rome, or Maui with that kind of money. I haven’t been on a trip forever...oh, Meghan! If this contract with them goes through, promise me we’ll splurge on some sort of big girls’ trip?”

Meghan thought for a moment. She was happy for Jackie; Jackie had been through a lot in the last few years, and Meghan wanted nothing more than for her good friend to succeed, but she also wanted Jackie to be wise about who she worked with, and how she spent her money. Meghan knew that Jackie had struggled to open her salon, and with the major redecorations she had done over the holidays, Meghan wondered if perhaps Jackie was being careless with her money.

“Hello? Meghan? Come on! Rosie said she’ll send over the contract this week, and after I sign it, I’ll get a signing bonus. Let’s at least use that for a little weekend getaway soon. I hear Miami is so much fun in the winter.”

Meghan bit her lip, unsure of what to say to her friend. Jackie had just been fretting about her finances over the holidays, and Meghan wanted to gently remind her that saving the large sum of money from Mariah Cooper could be beneficial in the long run.

“You know, I love the idea of going on a trip together,” she began. “But have you thought of investing that money? You could look into the stock markets, or even take some of it to invest in your business.”

“What do you mean?” Jackie asked. “Why wouldn’t I treat myself? I work so hard, and my clients can be so demanding. Why wouldn’t I spend a week, or two, or five sunning myself on a beach in Portugal? If Rosie is really going to arrange for me to get paid as much as they offered, I think it will be okay.”

Meghan frowned. Her own business had been a little slow over the last two weeks; with the holidays ending and many people in Sandy Bay starting diets at the beginning of January, Meghan’s numbers at the bakery had slightly dropped, and she was feeling sensitive about money as she spoke with Jackie.

“Am I just jealous of Jackie?” she thought to herself as she tried to come up with the right words to say. “My last few corporate orders were not as lucrative as I had hoped…maybe I’m just envious of her success. We’re both small business owners, and this deal would be huge. I guess her finances aren’t my business. If she wants to use the money from this major deal and go to Timbuktu, then that’s her business, if she can afford it.”

“Meghan?”

“I’m so happy for you,” she said to Jackie. “I have a meeting in ten minutes and I need to get ready, but can we talk more about this later?”

“Who are you meeting with? It’s pretty early for a meeting, isn’t it?”

“It’s earlier than my taste,” she admitted. “But it is important. I’m meeting with Ron Thomas, the graphic designer. He’s helping me do some rebranding work for the bakery, and this was the only time we could meet.”

“Ron Thomas, huh?” Jackie said. “That’s awesome. I’ve heard that everything he touches turns to gold, Meghan. What a great opportunity for you.”

“I know,” she said. “I reached out to him, and he asked if we could meet. He said he sees a lot of potential in the bakery, and I hope this rebranding will make business in the New Year skyrocket.”

“I bet it will,” Jackie replied. “Go get ready. I’ll talk to you later.”

Meghan hastily ran to her closet and tried to assemble a stylish outfit. She had heard that Ron Thomas was very chic and artsy, and Meghan wanted to make the best impression for their first meeting. She smiled as she removed a long-sleeve velvet dress from the back of her closet. She touched the smooth fabric, enjoying the way it felt on her hands, and grinning as her manicured fingers stood out against the black material. Meghan paired the dress with a pair of maroon tights and black ankle boots. She brushed her long hair, quickly weaving it into a thick braid that plummeted down her back. As she stared at her reflection in the floor-length mirror in her bedroom, she beamed.

“This could be a huge day for me,” she told herself as she admired the way the dress hugged her curves and accentuated her elegant collarbone. “Maybe Jackie and I will both have amazing developments as business owners this week. Ron Thomas is just who I need to send my business to the top, and I think I look my best for our meeting.”

Meghan applied a thick layer of pink lipstick and shook out her hair a final time. She then walked to the door to the narrow staircase, humming to herself as she ventured downstairs and into the kitchen of the bakery. Meghan lived just above her workplace, and she often joked that she had the world’s best commute.

“Good morning, Meghan,” chirped Pamela, the high school student who worked part time at Truly Sweet. “You look so pretty today.”

“You do,” Trudy, Meghan’s middle-aged employee, agreed. “Your eyes just pop in that black dress, Meghan.”

Meghan blushed. “It’s just something I threw on,” she teased. “I’m hoping that if I dress well, I will impress well in my meeting with Ron. He’s coming by in a few minutes to discuss our rebranding project, and I’m excited to put our heads together.”

“Ron Thomas redid the marketing strategy for that shoe store downtown,” Pamela gushed. “He turned it from a scary, dirty shop into a designer shoe store. I couldn’t believe it. Now, I beg my mom and dad to take me there all the time.”

Meghan grinned. “I’m glad to hear that,” she told Pamela. “This consultation meeting was expensive, but I think it will be a good investment.”

Suddenly, the little silver bells attached to the front door of the bakery chimed, signaling to Meghan that Ron had arrived. “Ooooh, he’s here,” Meghan cooed. “Time to shine.”

Meghan smiled as she walked into the dining area of the bakery to greet Ron. He was a short man, with a lavender shirt, round glasses, and tight grey pants that fit him perfectly. Meghan stuck out her hand, but Ron kissed her on both cheeks.

“Darling Meghan,” he said as she blushed. “What a joy to have this time with you. Your bakery is just precious, and I cannot wait to show you what I’ve been working on.”

“Thank you for meeting with me,” Meghan said as Ron nodded. “Let me show you to a table. My staff will bring out some treats for you to try later, and I have ordered an assortment of our coffee beverages for you to sample. I want you to have the best feel of this place as we embark on this rebranding journey, and I am going to make you sample everything!”

“Hopefully not everything,” Ron joked as he pointed to his slim waist. “I try not to eat sugar, dairy, or carbs, but I can surely appreciate your treats by looking at them.”

“We’ll see,” she said slyly. “No one can ever turn down my treats!”

Forty five minutes later, after looking through hundreds of sketches, color samples, and website designs, Meghan was exhausted. She felt relieved as Pamela appeared from the kitchen, a small purple, yellow, and green cake on a tray in her hands.

“Meghan? I have the first sample for Mr. Thomas to try.”

Meghan watched as Ron eyed the cake. “Why is it so colorful?” he asked, clearly intrigued.

“It’s a King cake,” Pamela told him. “We make the icing with organic ingredients, so even though it looks crazy, it tastes amazing!”

Ron smiled. “I think I will have to try some,” he admitted. “I try to stay away from sweets,” he told Pamela. “But the smell of that cake….”

Pamela cut a small slice and presented it to Ron. He delicately raised his fork, and then lowered it into the thick layers of icing. As he began to nibble on the cake, his eyes widened, and before everyone knew it, he had demolished the humble piece.

“That is delightful,” Ron declared as he licked his lips. “Meghan, what a talent you have. I am in heaven here.”

Meghan smiled. “I’m glad you are pleased.”

“Pleased? More like enthralled,” he gushed. “I love it. I know my sister would love it, too. I bet she could eat a whole truckload of this; I try to stay away from treats and sweets, but she has a real sweet tooth!”

Meghan laughed. “That’s funny,” she said.

“I mean it,” Ron insisted. “She would love your King cake. Meghan, are all of your desserts this divine?”

Meghan grinned as Pamela emphatically nodded. “Meghan is an artist,” Pamela announced. “And her kitchen is her canvas.”

“I think you are right,” Ron agreed as he reached for another piece of the King cake. “I think you are right, indeed.”

3

“I can’t believe she’s going to rent out the Presidential Suite for the pampering sessions!” Jackie exclaimed as she steered her sleek black Audi toward the Sandy Bay Hotel, the nicest hotel and event venue in town. “I thought Rosie wanted to hold the event at my salon, but when she called and told me that she had paid the deposit on the hotel, I nearly dropped my phone.”

Meghan said nothing, smiling weakly as her friend guided them closer to the hotel. She breathed in the new car, sighing as the scent of new leather filled her nose. Since receiving the first check from Rosie three days ago, Jackie had gone on a spending spree; from the brand new Audi, to two designer handbags, to hand-braided waist-length hair extensions, Jackie was making pricey purchases that made Meghan cringe.

“She is paying me in three parts,” Jackie had explained to Meghan on the day she purchased the new car. “And trust me, Meghan, each part is enough to finance everything I’ve ever wanted and more.”

Meghan was skeptical. “Don’t you still have some student debt?” she gently asked Jackie. “And didn’t you tell me the salon needs some roof work? Why don’t you use this money to pay off all of your debts, and then if there is money left over, you can splurge a little. That is what I would do.”

Jackie had scoffed. “You’re so pragmatic,” she complained to Meghan. “I think you need to follow my lead and live a little, girlfriend. Don’t let yourself be too much of an adult all of the time.”

Meghan had decided in that moment that she was finished giving Jackie advice; she had always tried to be frugal and wise with her spending, especially as a business owner, but Jackie’s spending spree was making Meghan nervous, and she couldn’t involve herself too much, no matter how much she wanted to.

Jackie pulled into the long, circular driveway of the Sandy Bay Hotel. Meghan sighed as she stepped out of the car; her parents had recently visited town and stayed at the hotel, and while it had been fun to visit with them, Meghan hoped that this adventure into the hotel would be quieter than when her parents had stayed.

“Mr. Templeton will meet us in the lobby,” Jackie informed Meghan as she pulled her shiny new pink handbag from the car and looped it over her right shoulder. “Rosie said that she sent him all of the instructions, and he will lead us around.”

“Great,” Meghan muttered, remembering the way Lewis Templeton, the hotel manager, had been at her parents’ beck and call during their stay. Meghan admired Lewis’ work ethic; he was devoted to the hotel, but he had made some snobbish comments about the town and the hotel’s ideal guests that had rubbed Meghan the wrong way.

“Ahhh, Jackie,” Lewis cooed as the two women entered the opulent lobby. Jackie leaned in to kiss Lewis on both cheeks.

“Thank you for having us,” Jackie gushed as Lewis smiled warmly. “It’s such a pleasure to be partnering with Rosie to provide the pampering session, and I’m thrilled to have access to your facilities.”

Lewis beamed. “Rosie wanted Mariah Cooper to have the best of the best,” he declared as he waved his arms wide. “And we are the best! Also, speaking of the best, your handbag is simply adorable, Jackie.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow as Jackie plucked it from her shoulder and delicately passed it to Lewis. “It’s brand new,” she stated proudly as Lewis admired the stitching. “I need to look my best if I am going to pamper the best.”

“That you do,” he agreed. “There’s just something about rubbing elbows with the well-to-do that inspires me to look my best. I get all of my suits and trousers tailored, and my shoes are flown in from Italy.”

Meghan groaned as Lewis struck a nonchalant pose, extending his left foot out so the two women could admire his walnut leather shoes. “I just can’t help myself,” he murmured as Jackie’s eyes widened.

“Jackie, I need to be back at the bakery soon,” Meghan interrupted. “Lewis? Can we start the tour of the suite?”

Lewis adjusted the thin, designer glasses perched on his nose and nodded. “Ahh, Meghan Truman. What a pleasure to see you. Please give my best to your parents. I enjoyed their stay here, and I do hope they will return soon. Ladies, let’s begin our tour.”

Lewis led Jackie and Meghan to the back of the grand lobby. “The private elevator to the Presidential Suite is just back here,” he told the women. “Ms. Cooper and her guests are welcome to use it, or they may use the private staircase in the back.”

“That’s good to know,” Jackie replied, pulling out a tiny purple notepad and a pen from her purse. “I’m going to take notes as we go. I want to make sure this pampering session goes as well as possible.”

“Excellent,” he responded. “Come now; we are going to zip upstairs in the private elevator.”

The trio boarded the elevator, and Lewis hit a large gold button, the only button in the enclosure. “You really are lucky to have secured this deal with Mariah Cooper,” he told Jackie as the elevator climbed to the tenth floor. “While Sandy Bay is a small town, its beauty and proximity to the ocean occasionally result in celebrities visiting and spending money at local businesses, including the hotel, and now, your salon. Just last month, we had Geoffrey Sadjedi, the famous international big cat tamer, in for two days. In that time, he spent more money here than the hotel had seen in its last year of business. Can you believe that?”

Jackie’s eyes widened, and Meghan could see the excitement on her friend’s face. “I wonder if Mariah will spend that kind of money here…”

“I’m sure she will,” he confirmed. “Rosie Jakes’ call earlier this week mentioned quite a sum, and if I am correct, I’ve heard she gives out significant bonuses when Mariah is pleased with service.”

Jackie gasped. “You’re kidding,” she said in disbelief. “This kind of compensation and a bonus? I don’t know what I did to deserve this opportunity, but you had better bet that I am going on one long, fancy vacation after this!”

Lewis chuckled as a little bell chimed. “We’ve arrived,” he said, and the elevator doors opened to reveal the Presidential Suite. “Here we are.”

The three stepped into the foyer and Jackie giggled. “This is the most fabulous, luxurious, pretty place I have ever been in,” she exclaimed as she took a few steps forward onto the marble floor. “Look! Those are French doors!”

“Imported from Paris,” Lewis confirmed.

“And the ceilings! Look at the color and the designs of those murals.”

“Frescos,” he corrected Jackie. “Painted by the great-great grandson of Diego Rivera himself.”

“And the furniture,” Jackie said dreamily as she lowered herself onto a white leather divan next to a massive picture window overlooking the ocean. “This just feels expensive.”

“It certainly is,” Lewis chimed in. “Now, let’s look at the different spaces. This suite offers six bedrooms, a sitting room, a formal parlor, a kitchen, a dining room, an exercise room, a private balcony, and a large loft space that could be perfect for the pampering session.”

“A loft space?” Jackie asked.

Lewis nodded. “It is the most modern area in the suite. We had it designed and located on the top floor of the suite for parties and events; you never know which of our Presidential Suite guests want to host their next hot event here, and we wanted to be prepared. It comes with a large bathroom space, a bar, and a speaker system that could put Madison Square Garden’s to shame.”

Jackie glowed as Lewis spoke. “It sounds like just the vibe I’m going for,” she agreed. “Let’s see it!”

As Lewis led the women up a spiral staircase in the corner of the foyer, Meghan’s phone began to ring. “It’s Pamela,” she mouthed to Jackie. “I need to take this; she’s holding down the fort at the bakery today.”

“Meghan?” Pamela whispered as Meghan answered the phone. “Thank goodness you answered; you need to come back to the bakery as soon as you can.”

Meghan frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s a woman here insisting she speak to you immediately.”

Meghan pursed her lips. “Pamela, I’m out for another hour,” she told her teenage employee. “Can you ask her to come back?”

“I did,” Pamela insisted. “Please, Meghan, this woman has been really pushy. Can you try to come back sooner? She says she has to talk with the owner as soon as possible.”

Meghan thought for a moment. She was tired of being dragged through the Presidential Suite of the Sandy Bay Hotel. She had shown up, walked through with Jackie, and after nearly an hour of watching her friend gush over the hotel, Meghan decided she could leave after all.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” she told Pamela.

“And we can put up some massage tables over there,” Meghan heard Jackie shriek from upstairs in the loft. Meghan scurried upstairs and over to her friend.

“Jackie? So sorry, but Pamela called. There’s a situation at the bakery, and I need to head back.”

“Oh,” she said dismissively. “Okay. Bye, Meghan.”

Meghan was hurt by Jackie’s indifference, but she pushed aside her feelings and dashed out of the Presidential Suite. “Some friend she is being right now,” Meghan thought as she rode the elevator to the lobby. “I know she is excited, but her obsession with wealth and nice things is getting old.”

Meghan treaded through the snow drifts scattered over the sidewalks, wishing she had called a cab. “A cab would have been fifteen bucks,” she groaned to herself as her right foot plunged into a snow bank. “I’m happy to be frugal….I’m happy to be frugal.”

Meghan arrived at the bakery with snow in her hair, a stuffy nose, and her cheeks red and raw from the bitter winter air.

“Meghan,” Pamela cried in relief as she trudged through the doors. “I’m so happy to see you. The woman who wanted to meet with you is in the restroom. She was very loud and demanding, Meghan.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “I hope I can get her whatever she needs.”

“What I need is an order of treats with Miss Meghan Truman,” boomed a deep female voice.

Meghan looked back to see a smiling portly woman barreling toward her. “Miss Truman, my brother, Ron, told me all about you. He says your treats are to die for.”

Meghan smiled. “You’re Ron’s sister?”

The woman nodded. “I’m Cathy Thomas. It’s a pleasure to meet you. My brother brought me a piece of your King Cake, and my oh my, my taste buds went berserk with pleasure.”

Meghan grinned. “I’m always happy to hear that, and Ron is such a dear. It’s been a pleasure working with him.”

“Well, I’m not the only Thomas who wants to be in cahoots with you,” Cathy declared. “I’m hosting an event in a few days, and I want you to provide the treats. Can you do it?”

Knowing that a partnership with Ron’s sister could greatly benefit the bakery, Meghan agreed. “Of course,” she told her. “We can set up the details now, if you would like.”

“Absolutely,” Cathy cooed. “And Meghan? There’s one thing I need from you.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“Don’t forget the King Cake,” she beamed. “Like I said, that cake was to die for!”

4

Later that day, Meghan curled up in her bed, pulling her two twin dogs, Fiesta and Siesta, close to her chest. She was exhausted from visiting the hotel, and she decided to take her lunch break upstairs in her apartment. Dressed in Jack’s worn out college sweatshirt, a forest green hoodie that set off her dark eyes, Meghan felt cozy as she climbed beneath the covers of her goose down comforter.

“It’s almost time for Jack to call,” she told her dogs as they licked her face with their little pink tongues. “I’m so excited to talk to him! I miss him so much.”

At exactly noon, Meghan’s phone began to buzz. She grinned as Jack’s name flashed across the screen.

“Hey, Beautiful,” Jack said, his deep voice sending a shiver down Meghan’s spine. “How is my girl today?”

Meghan settled back onto her three thick pillows and breathed a sigh of relief. “Better now that I’m talking to you. I miss you, Babe.”

“I miss you too,” he told her. “This training has been so intense, Meghan. I would like nothing more than to snuggle up with you on the couch, watch a movie, and eat some of your treats. Gosh, the thought of one of your red velvet cakes is going to drive me crazy!”

Meghan laughed. “That sounds amazing,” she said. “But I have to tell you, it’s another one of my cakes that has brought in some interesting business today. I was touring the Presidential Suite with Jackie for her event when I received a call from the bakery. Ron Thomas’ sister, Cathy, stopped in and was insistent that we talk.”

“What did she want?”

“I had made some of my King Cake and served it to Ron, and I guess he took some home to his sister,” she told him. “She stopped by and begged me to make some for an event she is hosting in a few days. It was kind of a weird chat with her...I’ve never had someone seem so desperate for a dessert.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” he dismissed. “Don’t overthink it, Babe! Just be grateful it’s another good business opportunity.”

“You’re right,” she agreed. “Now, tell me about your day.”

“It’s just another day of training,” he said. “But I’m enjoying it. The only thing I’m worried about is you.”

“Me?” she asked in surprise.

“Yes, you,” Jack said. “I called the station today to check in. One of my buddies told me that there has been a string of muggings in the last few days or so. You haven’t seen anything suspicious, have you?”

Meghan thought about her week. It had been uneventful, and she had not seen anything strange or out of place. “No,” she said. “It’s been business as usual, Babe.”

“Good,” he told her. “I’m glad. I have been worried about you. This seems to happen every year after the holidays. People practically become freelance thieves. The station always sees an increase in pickpocketing and mugging in January, and since my buddy mentioned it to me, I thought I should pass the word along to you.”

“Thanks, Honey,” she said. “You always look out for me.”

“That’s because I love you,” he told Meghan. “All I want to do right now is hold you in my arms and kiss you on that adorable little nose of yours. You know the freckles on the end of your nose drive me crazy.”

“I can’t wait until you get home,” she said. “Only a few more days.”

“Only a few more days,” he confirmed.

After Meghan and Jack said goodbye, Meghan stretched her arms overhead, thankful for the short break in her day. She removed Jack’s oversized sweatshirt, shivering as the cold air brushed her belly. Meghan slipped a gray turtleneck over her head, knowing it was time to return to work.

As Meghan walked downstairs and into the dining area of the bakery, she was pleased to find Karen Denton, her dear friend, sitting at one of the tables. Karen had been Meghan’s neighbor in Los Angeles several years ago, and despite being in her seventies, she was the most spirited, active person Meghan knew. It was Karen who had convinced Meghan to move across the country to Sandy Bay, and Meghan loved that their friendship had continued to flourish in Karen’s hometown.

“Karen, I didn’t know you were coming by. Was I expecting you? This week has just gotten away from me,” Meghan apologized as she registered a concerned look on Karen’s face. “Karen? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Karen shook her head, her blonde hair messy and her eyes red. “No, I was just mugged on my jog home from my Pilates class,” she told Meghan. “I already called the police and made a report, but I am still so upset. It happened so quickly.”

Meghan’s jaw dropped. “Karen, my goodness! Are you okay? What happened?”

Karen shrugged. “I was exhausted from my Pilates class, but I decided to jog home, as I always do. As I rounded a corner downtown, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around, but no one was there. As I turned back around, there was a person in a hat standing in front of me. I couldn’t see their face. I was so scared. They took my fanny pack, which had my wallet and keys in it.”

Meghan took Karen’s hands in hers. “I’m so sorry that happened to you,” she murmured. “What can I do? How about a cup of tea?”

Karen nodded. “That is just what I need.”

Meghan left the table and returned a few minutes later with a steaming cup of Karen’s favorite mint tea. “Thank you,” Karen said as she blew on the top of the hot tea. “Why were you upstairs? Pamela said you were taking lunch up there.”

“Jack and I had a phone date planned,” she admitted. “I took my lunch break upstairs instead of taking his call down here.”

“Things sure are busy here today,” Karen said as she looked around the bakery. “Pamela was practically out of breath when I spoke with her a few minutes ago. She said you have a huge private order that you are working on?”

“Yes,” Meghan confirmed. “You know, now that I’m thinking about it, I’m not sure if the order is being picked up or delivered…”

“Go check on it,” Karen told Meghan. “I’m fine here. Go check on your order and we can chat when you get back.”

That evening, Meghan navigated around the grocery store with a frown on her face. She had been ready to put on her pajamas and relax after work when she realized she had no food in her pantry. Meghan begrudgingly threw on a pair of leggings and boots and trundled off to the local grocery store.

“Meghan!” she heard a deep voice exclaim as she examined the apples in the produce section. “What a pleasure to run into you.”

Meghan turned to find Cathy Thomas grinning at her. “Cathy, this is a pleasure,” she greeted her customer. “I’m so happy to see you. I called you earlier about your order for your event? I have the treats and desserts prepared, but you didn’t specify if you would like me to have them sent to you, or if you are picking them up?”

Cathy smiled. “You can have them sent over to the Sandy Bay Hotel,” she told Meghan. “I ordered the treats as a special surprise for some friends.”

“That’s good to know,” Meghan said. “I will make that note on your order and make sure they are ready to be sent.”

“Thank you so much, Meghan,” she cooed. “My friends will just die for your treats; I haven’t been able to stop thinking about your King Cake.”

“I’m so glad to hear that,” she told Cathy. “I always aim to please my customers, and your satisfaction is a top priority.”

“I’m sure you will surpass my expectations,” she complimented Meghan. “I already just know that I will be more than satisfied with my order.”

5

Three days later, Meghan awoke to the sound of her cell phone ringing. She fumbled through the darkness for her phone, seeing the time on her alarm clock and grumbling as she registered that it was not quite yet six in the morning.

“Hello?” Meghan muttered as she held the phone to her face, her thoughts jumbled as she sleepily rubbed her eyes.

“Meghan, it’s Jackie. I need your help.”

Meghan sat up in her bed and turned on the lamp on her bedside table. “Jackie? What do you need? What’s up?”

“I’m worried about my assistants,” she cried. “I ran a practice session at the salon last night to prepare for the event today, and the assistants were not performing up to par. They could hardly trim a cuticle, let alone do a full manicure. It’s like they’ve forgotten everything they know.”

Meghan groaned quietly and rolled over, careful not to stir her dogs from their deep slumber. “Jackie,” she began, trying her best to be patient with her friend. “I’m sure your assistants are just nervous; it is not every day that they get to pamper the rich and famous. You’ve trained them well, and I know that they will do their best for your event tonight.”

“Do you think so?” she asked. “I just don’t know. I was so excited about tonight until the practice session, and now, I just worry it will all be a disaster.”

“It will be better than you expect,” she assured her friend. “You have a beautiful suite to work in, your assistants will be more relaxed, and you will ride off into the sunset with a huge check from Rosie. You just have to believe in yourself, and you have to believe in your team. That’s the most important thing you can do as a business owner: believe in yourself, and believe in your people.”

“You’re right,” she agreed in a small voice. “Meghan, you are the sweetest. I know you think I’m caught up and swept away in the glitz and glamour of this event, and I know you’ve been worrying about the way I’ve been spending my paychecks from Rosie, but I promise you: I am still me, and I am still down-to-Earth. I called you for your advice, and I can honestly tell you that you’ve helped me so much.”

“That’s great,” she told Jackie. “I’m happy you feel better. And, if you get nervous later, just text me; I have an order to drop off at the hotel. Perhaps we’ll be there at the same time and I can give you a quick hug.”

“That sounds great,” Jackie said. “I hope I’ll see you later, Meghan.”

************

Later that morning, Meghan prepared to deliver Cathy Thomas’ order of treats to the hotel. Knowing the hotel would be full of glamorous guests, Meghan decided to take extra time to get ready for the day. She took a long, hot shower, and took special care to wash and dry her long dark hair. While Meghan typically gravitated toward a natural look, she decided to apply a full face of makeup. She searched for the small pink leather makeup bag that her mother had given her for Christmas and removed the chalky olive powder that she applied to her face with a long black brush.

Meghan studied her reflection in the mirror. She smiled, pleased with her appearance; she looked professional in the long navy skirt and pale pink turtleneck she had put on after her shower, and after applying a layer of matching lipstick, Meghan felt very put together. She secretly hoped she would run into Jackie, or perhaps Rosie, or maybe Mariah Cooper herself.

“Alright, puppers,” Meghan said to Fiesta and Siesta as she slipped on her knee-length brown leather boots. “It’s time to go to the hotel. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’s a nice, quiet visit that is drama-free.”

Meghan arrived minutes later at the hotel. She carried the boxes of treats into the lobby, each box containing an assortment of King Cake, eclairs, gingerbread, and donuts. Meghan was proud of her desserts; she, Pamela, and Trudy had spent hours baking and decorating each treat to look perfect, and she hoped that Cathy’s friends would be pleased.

“Miss Truman,” Lewis Templeton greeted Meghan as she strode into the lobby.

“Lewis,” Meghan said politely. “Nice to see you.”

“I have been instructed to direct you to the event,” Lewis explained. “Come with me, please.”

Lewis led Meghan through the lobby and to the private elevator leading to the Presidential Suite. “Where are we going?” Meghan asked. “These are for Cathy Thomas’ friends.”

“I’m just following instructions,” Lewis told Meghan as they stepped into the elevator.

When the doors opened to the Presidential Suite, Meghan heard loud pop music playing, as well as giggling and happy squealing. Lewis stepped onto the marble floors, and Meghan followed him. “I don’t think this is where my delivery is going,” she protested. “It’s for Cathy Thomas’ friends, and this is the event for Mariah Cooper.”

“Meghan?”

Meghan smiled as Jackie walked toward her, a frown on her face. Jackie looked elegant in her black leather skinny jeans and matching black halter top, but given the sour look on her face, Meghan suspected her friend wasn’t happy to see her.

“What are you doing here?” Jackie asked as she leaned forward to coldly kiss Meghan on the cheek. “Are those your treats?”

Meghan nodded and looked at Lewis. “I am supposed to be dropping off treats for friends of Cathy Thomas,” she explained to Jackie. “But Mr. Templeton led me up here. I know your event is going on, so I’ll just go get out of your hair. This must be a mistake.”

“It isn’t a mistake,” declared Cathy Thomas as she strutted into the room in a silk bathrobe. “I placed the order for my friends here; Mariah and I go way back, and I wanted to make sure that her special pampering day was filled with sweet friends and sweet treats. Girls! Come in here! The desserts have arrived.”

Meghan stood awestruck as ten young women ran into the foyer. “You know Mariah Cooper?” she asked Cathy.

“Of course,” she replied. “My brother is in the art and design industry, and it is a small, small world.”

The young women began to paw at the boxes Meghan was holding. “I want something sweet,” whined a leggy caramel blonde girl.

“I’ve been on the strictest diet lately, so it will be nice to let loose and have some cake,” another girl announced as she reached into a box.”

“Girls, no!” Jackie yelled frantically. “The pampering session isn’t over! I have so much work to do still. Let me finish your makeup and hair before you eat; I don’t want you to ruin your looks.”

“Why don’t you put the boxes down on that table?” Lewis directed Meghan as she defended her treats from the small crowd of hungry young women.

Meghan obeyed. “Well, Cathy, I put in plenty of King Cake, just like you asked.”

“Splendid,” Cathy told Meghan, a twinkle in her eyes. “Now, let me introduce you to Mariah; I hear you’ve had a little encounter before, but let me take you to meet her personally.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Jackie sputtered from the corner.

Cathy turned to glare at her. “Excuse me?”

Jackie clapped a hand over her mouth, clearly embarrassed at her outburst. “I….nothing. I didn’t mean to say anything.”

Cathy shot a dark look at Jackie, but took Meghan by the hand and led her to the loft. “Come. Mariah is like a junior sister to me, and I know she will just love you.”

Meghan’s heart beat quickly as she climbed the stairs. She was thankful that she had taken extra time to primp before venturing over to the hotel.

“Mariah,” Cathy cooed as she reached the top of the stairs. “I have someone for you to say hello to.”

Meghan smiled as Mariah stared at her. Mariah was sitting on a white leather couch with Rosie Jakes beside her. Both women wore silk robes and slippers, and their faces were the color of pickles.

“They have face masks on,” Cathy whispered as she watched Meghan’s eyes. “Mariah, Rosie, Meghan Truman provided the goodies for the event today. I wanted you both to say hello.”

Rosie wrinkled her nose at Meghan, but Mariah smiled kindly. “Thank you for your contributions,” Mariah said in a soft voice. “My entourage does so much for me, and I’m so happy to treat them. Thank you for being part of it.”

“It’s no problem,” Meghan told Mariah. “Cathy’s brother, Ron, is doing some work for my bakery to help rebrand and establish our social media presence, and I was more than happy to make desserts for Cathy. They’re nice people.”

“They are,” Mariah agreed. “I’ve known Cathy for years, and she is such a doll.”

“Oh, you are too kind,” Cathy said. “Anyway, Meghan is going to get on her way now. I’m sure she’s very busy.”

“How old are you?” Mariah asked Meghan.

“Me?” she asked.

“Yes, you,” Mariah laughed.

“I’m twenty-seven, almost twenty-eight,” she told her.

“You’re really pretty,” Mariah told Meghan. “Would you have any interest in hanging out with us for the rest of the afternoon? My crowd here is mostly from the art scene, and I think it would be fun to have someone different around.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Rosie argued. “Maggie needs to leave, Mariah. I’m sure she’s very busy.”

“Actually, Meghan would love to stay, Mariah,” Meghan declared as Cathy clapped her hands joyfully. “I would love to hang out and relax.”

The rest of Meghan’s afternoon was spent lounging in the loft with Cathy, Mariah, Rosie, and the rest of Mariah’s entourage. Meghan felt awkward at first; she could tell that Jackie was annoyed with her presence, but after sipping on a glass of rose, Meghan began to relax. She was given a silk robe of her own to put on, and she and the other women listened happily as Cathy told stories of her days as a young artist in New York City.

“And that is how I earned my first commission,” Cathy said as she finished her last story.

“That was lovely, Cathy,” Mariah said. “Girls, our day is winding down, but I want to give credit where credit is due. Let’s give a round of applause to Rosie for securing this venue and planning our day.”

The crowd clapped for Rosie, and Rosie took a dramatic bow. “It’s just another day at the office, girls,” she said haughtily.

“And let’s hear it for Cathy Thomas for finding the best dessert chef in all of the Pacific Northwest to provide treats for today. Her desserts are good, but her company is better. Thank you, Cathy, and thank you, Meghan!”

Everyone clapped, and Meghan burned with pride as her new friends lifted their champagne flutes to toast to her. “It’s a pleasure to be here, ladies,” Meghan said, glowing with the attention.

“Well, that’s all for today, ladies,” Mariah announced. “Feel free to relax, visit the pool, or nap; we have dinner being delivered in a few hours, but for now, we have some quiet time.”

Meghan turned to see Jackie standing behind the crowd, her face filled with hurt. “Ahem? Mariah? What about me?”

Mariah glanced up and saw Jackie. “Ahhh! Thank you, Jenny, for all of your help with your pampering. It was so sweet of you and your assistants to help out.”

Jackie turned and darted down the stairs, and Meghan followed close behind. “Jackie,” Meghan called out. “Jackie?”

“I planned an entire day,” Jackie said through gritted teeth. “I transformed the loft, as well as the bedrooms, into a salon. I paid my assistants overtime. I hauled my things over here. I paid for new outfits for myself and my staff. And you get the big whoopdee-doo thank you from Mariah and you get to stay for the pampering? Seriously?”

Meghan shrugged. “I’m sorry,” she told Jackie. “I just…”

“I’m leaving,” Jackie said angrily. “Just leave me alone.”

That night, Meghan was relieved to see Jackie’s name flash across her phone. “Jackie,” Meghan answered. “I’m sorry about today. I never wanted to steal your thunder; I didn’t plan to stay! I’m sorry if you felt like I was stepping on your toes. I truly didn’t know my order was to be delivered to your event. Cathy---”

“Meghan,” Jackie replied in a weak voice. “Cathy Thomas is dead.”

6

Meghan nearly dropped the phone. She imagined Cathy Thomas holding court at Mariah’s event with a smile on her face and a piece of King Cake in her hand. Meghan had only known Cathy a short time, but she enjoyed Cathy’s boisterous personality and ability to make others feel welcome.

“You have to be kidding me,” Meghan whispered. “She’s dead? What happened?”

“They found her outside of the hotel,” Jackie began. “They thought she was joking--everyone said Cathy Thomas was such a jokester. Anyway, she had blood on her face, and then they discovered she had a blow to her head.”

“That’s horrible,” Meghan muttered as she remembered hugging Cathy goodbye only hours earlier. “When did this happen?”

“She left the hotel only a few minutes after you did,” Jackie informed Meghan. “Everyone was winding down for the evening and taking naps, and Cathy slipped out a little after five.”

“Did anyone go with her?”

“I don’t know, Meghan. I was trying to direct my staff and clean up the event. The event that was going to be my true big break, but will now be remembered as the event someone died at. Oh, Meghan! This is terrible.”

Meghan could hear the concern in Jackie’s voice. Her heart broke for Jackie, as well as Ron Thomas, who was now without a sister, and Mariah Cooper, who had lost a dear friend. “I’m so sorry, Jackie,” she murmured. “What a tragedy for all.”

A few minutes later, Meghan and Jackie said goodnight. Just as Meghan placed her cell phone on her bedside table, her heart sank; she remembered that she had left several of her display trays at the hotel. “That is the last place I want to return to right now,” Meghan moaned as she ran through her weekly schedule in her head. “But if I am remembering correctly, we need those trays tomorrow afternoon. I’m going to have to go over there sooner than later.”

The next morning, Meghan woke up ten minutes before her alarm clock went off. She lifted her arms over head and kicked her legs out, enjoying the sensation of the full-body stretch. She reached down and stroked the soft, curly fur coats of her little dogs. “Good morning, my babies,” she murmured as Fiesta crawled onto her chest. Meghan buried her face in Fiesta’s belly and blew hot air onto the dog’s warm skin, giggling as Fiesta flailed his little legs around as though he were being tickled.

Suddenly, Meghan’s stomach dropped as she recalled the events of the previous day. She felt tears brim in her dark eyes as she remembered Jackie’s sad voice and the terrible news of Cathy Thomas’ death. “And I have to go back over to the hotel,” Meghan remembered in horror. “I have to collect the display trays…”

Meghan rose from the bed and ventured to the chest of drawers in the corner of her bedroom. She moved slowly, feeling weighed down by the tragedy of Cathy’s unexpected passing, and it felt like getting dressed took an eternity. Instead of picking out her prettiest outfit as she had the day before, Meghan chose to dress comfortably, selecting a pair of olive green leggings, a long beige sweater, and matching ankle boots. She tied her wavy hair in a loose fishtail braid and decided to forgo makeup, knowing that she would likely cry it all off anyway.

Meghan left her apartment and went downstairs, surprised to hear the happy chatter of Pamela and Trudy coming from the kitchen. “They must not know what happened,” Meghan thought as she solemnly entered the kitchen. “They must be keeping it quiet for now.”

Pamela noticed Meghan first. “Meghan?” she asked. “What’s wrong? Why do you look so upset?”

Trudy chimed in as well. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Meghan. Is everything okay?”

Meghan took a long, deep breathe. “Well, it’s funny you should say that,” she said. “There’s been a tragedy, ladies.”

Pamela’s eyes widened. “A tragedy? What happened?”

Meghan bit her bottom lip. “Cathy Thomas, the woman who placed the private order that I delivered yesterday? She’s dead.”

“She’s dead?” Trudy screeched. “Ron Thomas’ sister, dead?”

Meghan nodded. “She was found dead outside of the hotel last night.”

“Meghan, that is so scary,” Pamela lamented. “Another death in Sandy Bay?”

Meghan shrugged. “It’s horrible. Cathy was so kind to me. I can’t believe she is gone. And now, I have to go back to the hotel. I left some of our display trays over there, and we need them at the bakery this afternoon.”

Trudy’s eyes widened. “Do you want us to go with you? You look pretty upset.”

Meghan shook her head. “No,” she said. “It will be okay. I will be okay. I just need a cup of coffee and some breakfast to settle my stomach before I head over there.”

An hour later, Meghan arrived at the Sandy Bay Hotel, her hands shaking as she pushed through the magnificent revolving doors of the lobby.  She walked slowly to the front desk, feeling slightly relieved to find Lewis Templeton behind it.

Meghan’s eyes widened as she stared at Lewis; his face was pale and gaunt, and he wore the same outfit he had the previous day, though today, it was covered in wrinkles. Meghan had never seen Lewis Templeton look unkempt, and she knew he must be devastated over the death of Cathy Thomas and the impact it would have on his hotel.

“Meghan,” Lewis muttered as she approached the front desk. “Good morning.”

“Lewis, you look like you need a tall cup of coffee,” Meghan weakly joked, a thin smile on her lips.

Lewis nodded. “I’ve been up all night,” he confessed to Meghan, and she saw his eyes were bloodshot. “Ever since Ms. Thomas was found, this place has been a madhouse. I can’t keep the press away, and the police have covered the Presidential Suite with tape and barriers. People are marching in and out of my hotel, and now, we will be ruined by this scandal.”

Meghan hung her head. “Any suspects been named, yet?” she asked Lewis under her breath.

Lewis shook his head. “Not that I know of,” he admitted. “But I think her death has something to do with the string of muggings that’s been going on in town.”

“My boyfriend, Jack, mentioned that there have been some muggings after the holidays,” Meghan said. “Do you think it was a mugging gone wrong?”

Lewis frowned. “Two of my guests have been victims of mugging in the last week,” he told Meghan. “And Cathy Thomas would have been an easy target; with her...girth and her expensive clothes, well, she would be an obvious choice for a mugging.”

Meghan bit her lip and leaned closer to Lewis. “Did the guests who were mugged see who it was?”

Lewis pursed his lips. “They couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman,” he said. “And the face was covered. But they said the mugger was very quiet and came out of nowhere...they were shocked.”

Meghan’s face grew pale. “That sounds just like the person who mugged Karen,” she whispered, thinking of her dear friend’s situation. “I wonder if all of this is connected? I wonder if it’s safe to be in Sandy Bay right now?”

7

“And did you see anything? Was the police tape everywhere? Was there blood inside of the suite?”

Meghan sighed as Pamela peppered her with questions, her eyes bright and her face eager. “Pamela, I told you that it was a quick trip to the suite. My things were laying in the kitchen, and I collected the trays and left quietly. I didn’t want to cause a scene. I didn’t really see anything crazy.”

Pamela shook her head. “Surely you saw something! You went to a murder scene!”

Trudy scoffed. “You’re being rude, Pamela,” she chastised the teenager. “Meghan is upset over Cathy’s death. You shouldn’t be prying like this.”

Pamela hung her head. “Sorry, Meghan.”

Meghan bit her lip as the little silver bells attached to the front door chimed. Lawrence Griffin, one of the police officers on Jack’s unit, strode into the bakery with a clipboard in his hands. He removed his hat upon making eye contact with Meghan, and he grinned. “Meghan, good to see you.”

Meghan nodded curtly. “Lawrence, nice to see you as well. What can I do for you? Are you in the mood for a coffee, or perhaps a croissant?”

Lawrence shook his head, his dark curls sweeping into his eyes. He was a year or two younger than Meghan, and from the corner of her eye, she could see Pamela practically swooning in the corner. “I’m here on an official capacity, Meghan,” he told her. “It’s a bummer Jack is out of town; if he were around, you could have talked to him. Chief Nunan thought it would be best if I came out today, though. She thought that since Jack and I are buddies, you would feel comfortable during our interview.”

“Interview?” Meghan asked.

Lawrence nodded, brushing the dark ringlets from his face and pushing them back. “Yeah, Chief Nunan is gathering statements from everyone present at Mariah Cooper’s little girls’ night. The Chief thinks someone there will have the key to Cathy Thomas’ murder.”

“They’re officially calling it a murder now?” Meghan gasped.

Lawrence shrugged. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything, but yeah, it’s pretty clear that it wasn’t an accidental death. Ms. Thomas took a hard blow to the head, and the Chief has been abundantly clear that we are considering this a murder case.”

Meghan felt hot tears brim in her eyes. “Well, what do you need from me?” she asked Lawrence.

Lawrence gestured at one of the little white tables in the corner. “I have some questions to ask you about the event, as well as your interactions with Cathy,” he told Meghan. “Can we sit down?”

Meghan glanced over at Trudy. “Trudy, can you and Pamela hold down the fort for a bit?”

Trudy nodded. “Of course, Meghan.”

Meghan turned to smile weakly at Lawrence. “Please, have a seat. I’ll have Pamela bring out some tea and donuts for us.”

Lawrence grinned. “I knew this would be the best stop of the day,” he told Meghan as he adjusted his clipboard and retrieved a blue pen from the pocket of his police jacket. “Now, Meghan, I’m going to ask you several questions today. I am going to take notes, as well as record your statement. Is that alright with you, or would you prefer to have your attorney here?”

Meghan sighed. “I have nothing to hide,” she informed Lawrence. “I don’t need my attorney here. Let’s just get started.”

“Okay,” Lawrence said as he removed the cap from his pen. “Meghan, in what capacity did you know Cathy Thomas?”

Meghan thought for a moment. “Well, at first, it was strictly a professional relationship,” she said. “Cathy placed an order with me for the event at the hotel. She is also the sister of Ron Thomas, the graphic designer I am working with to rebrand the bakery’s social media presence.”

Lawrence nodded as he scribbled notes onto the the paper in front of him. “So, you said at first, it was a professional relationship? When did your relationship with Cathy become personal?”

“When I delivered the treats to the hotel, Cathy coaxed Mariah into allowing me to stay at the event and enjoy myself,” Meghan said. “Cathy encouraged Mariah to let me visit and relax with the other women.”

Lawrence raised an eyebrow. “So you took advantage of your professional opportunity and made it a personal spa day?”

Meghan’s jaw dropped. “That is not what I said,” she declared. “Cathy invited me to stay, and I did. Maybe I should have left, but Cathy was so funny and warm, and I was excited to meet new friends and relax. I’ve been running myself ragged lately, and the spa day was the best little afternoon I didn’t know I needed.”

“Until Cathy Thomas was murdered.”

Meghan pursed her lips and wrinkled her forehead. “Yes, until Cathy Thomas was murdered.”

Lawrence wrote a few more notes down, and then, he stared into Meghan’s eyes apologetically. “I’m sorry, Meghan,” he said softly. “I can tell I’m upsetting you. I didn’t mean to be rude when I made that comment about the spa day. I grew up pretty poor, and watching Mariah Cooper, Rosie, and the rest of those girls flit around town, throwing money around really annoys me.”

Meghan smiled. “Thank you for apologizing,” she said. “I understand. Let’s just get back to your questions.”

Lawrence nodded. “Can you tell me about Cathy’s demeanor at the event?”

“Cathy was having a wonderful time,” Meghan told Lawrence. “She and Mariah Cooper seemed very close; Cathy said they were old friends because of their connections with the art world. Cathy was in a great mood, and she was the life of the party, for the most part. Mariah seemed a little shyer, but it was fine, because Cathy made sure everyone was enjoying themselves.”

Lawrence wrote down Meghan’s statement. “Excellent, Meghan. This is very helpful. Now, for a last few logistical questions. Can you tell me how the spa day ended? What time did you leave? Was Cathy still there?”

“The day ended quietly, and I left in the late afternoon,” Meghan replied. “Cathy was still there when I left, so I don’t know for sure what time she went home.”

Lawrence finished taking notes as Pamela delivered two cups of hot green tea to the table. “Hi, Lawrence,” Pamela giggled as she set a silver mug in front of him. “Nice to see you.”

Lawrence smiled at Pamela, but turned back to Meghan. “That’s all I need from you, Meghan,” he told her. “Again, I’m sorry if I came off as rude earlier. Like I said, that crowd of girls has always annoyed me, and I shouldn’t have let that impact our interview today.”

Meghan placed a hand on Lawrence’s. “It’s fine, Lawrence,” she said kindly. “I understand. It can be hard to let go of the past, but look at you now. You are an officer, and a successful one, or so I have heard from Jack.”

Lawrence grinned. “I do my best. Anyway, I need to get around to the hotel to talk to that Templeton fellow. Meghan, it was good to see you.”

Meghan rose to her feet and gestured to Pamela. “Pamela? Where is Lawrence’s donut? Did you forget it?”

Pamela scurried into the dining area with a small yellow bag in her hands. “I forgot it earlier,” she laughed nervously as she stared at Lawrence, her cheeks turning red. “But I wrapped up two donuts for Lawrence to take. Here you go, Lawrence.”

Lawrence nodded. “Thank you, Pamela,” he told the teenager who was staring at him in adoration. “Meghan, it was a pleasure.”

As soon as Lawrence left the bakery, Pamela collapsed into a fit of giggles. “He’s so cute, Meghan,” she gushed as she ran to the window to stare at Lawrence as he got into his police car.

“He’s too old for you, Pamela,” Meghan told her young employee. “You acted like such a goose when he was in here. I think he knows you have a crush on him, my dear.”

Pamela’s face turned red, and she giggled as she walked into the kitchen. As Pamela left the room, the silver bells chimed once more, and Meghan was shocked when Ron Thomas walked through the door of the bakery.

“Mr. Thomas,” Meghan murmured as he greeted her with sad eyes. “What can I do for you? I am so sorry to hear about your sister’s passing.”

Ron gestured at the portfolio he was carrying. “We had a meeting for today, remember?”

Meghan bit her lip. “I didn’t expect that you would make it to our meeting given the circumstances of the the last few days,” she admitted.

Ron shrugged. “It’s a tragic loss, but my work has kept me going over the last few days. I am heartbroken, of course, and I will be flying home to Wisconsin after the autopsy to spend time with my parents, who are also devastated. But, for today, I have some designs to show you. It will only be a short meeting. Are you still available?”

Meghan nodded. “Of course,” she said. “I’ll have some food brought out. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to meet with me today.”

Ron opened his leather portfolio and removed several laminated designs. “Here is the one I like best,” he told Meghan as he handed her a bright yellow pamphlet. “This is the scheme I was thinking of for the website. The yellows and the cream colors I used reflect the atmosphere of the bakery itself, and I think it allows visitors to the website to gain a sense of what visiting the bakery is like.”

Meghan’s eyes widened as she studied the pamphlet. The design was elegant, but whimsical; with the white, cursive lettering, the tasteful pictures of Meghan’s treats, and the new headshot of Meghan, it looked professional, but personal.

“I love it,” Meghan murmured as she held the pamphlet. “This is exactly what I wanted for the business. The yellow even matches the front door of the bakery. I can’t tell you how much I love it!”

Ron smiled. “I’m happy that you approve,” he said. “Here are the other things. I have drawn up some ideas for a logo, a business card, and a blog that you could update weekly with recipes, events, or news about the bakery.”

Meghan looked through everything, a wide smile on her face as she imagined how much her business would grow with Ron Thomas’ help. “This is more than I could have hoped for,” she assured Ron. “You have gone above and beyond to make my dreams come true. I can’t thank you enough.”

Ron gave Meghan a half-smile. “It’s what I do,” he told her. “I’m glad you are pleased.”

Suddenly, Pamela appeared. She was holding a platter of King Cake, but she nearly dropped it when she saw the designs. “Are these the sketches for the new website?” she cried. “Oh my goodness! These are fantastic! Look at the colors. These logos are just precious. Mr. Thomas, you are so amazing. Could I get an autograph?”

“Pamela,” Trudy hissed as she marched out to the table. “Pamela, Mr. Thomas has been through a loss, and you are not being respectful. Go back to the kitchen.”

Pamela obeyed, and Trudy shook her head. “You should be home with your family,” she gently told Ron. “Family is everything, and I can’t imagine why you are taking a work meeting today.”

Ron shrugged. “As I told Meghan, my family is out of state. I’ll be joining them soon.”

Trudy frowned. “It just seems odd that you could produce this kind of art and design when your sister just died,” she said. “You would think that a heartbroken brother would be grieving at a time like this...not working. It seems odd, indeed…..”

8

That evening, Meghan was happy to find a pleasant text message from Jackie urging her to come over for takeout. Jackie also apologized for being cold and touchy about the pampering event, and Meghan quickly accepted her apology.

As the two women lounged on Jackie’s couch, Meghan smiled.

“I’m really glad we could do this,” Meghan said as she dipped a corn chip into a tiny bowl of queso. “Things have seemed off since that day at the hotel, and I’m glad we could talk it through and hang out.”

Jackie nodded as she sprinkled diced pineapple onto her little taco. “I’m glad too, Meghan. Really, I was just being territorial and stubborn, and admittedly, I was a bit jealous when you got to enjoy the pampering.”

“I know,” Meghan replied as she rolled up a steak taco. “I know. But, now that we are relaxing, let’s only talk about good things. It’s been a stressful week for everyone in Sandy Bay, and we should just enjoy ourselves.”

“I agree,” Jackie said as she reached down to scratch Dash, Jack’s dog, behind the ears. Meghan was looking after Dash while Jack was away, and tonight, Dash, Fiesta, and Siesta were contentedly perched on Jackie’s overstuffed loveseat.

“Ugh, the news,” Meghan complained as the television show they had been watching flashed to the evening news. “Let’s change it; I don’t want to hear about any murders, violence, or bad things.”

Jackie shook her head. “Let’s just listen for a few minutes,” she insisted. “Look! They’re showing the hotel. I bet they are going to talk about Cathy.”

Jackie was right. The news anchor, a statuesque redhead with a blunt bob, stared seriously into the camera as a photograph of Cathy appeared behind her. “Sources close to Ms. Thomas report that she was a close friend of local art phenom, Mariah Cooper.”

The screen flashed to a video of Mariah Cooper leaving the hotel, her eyes bloodshot and her face pale. Reporters shoved microphones into her face, and Mariah shielded herself from the blinding lights.

“Mariah is the most shy celebrity I’ve ever heard of,” Meghan said quietly.

“Shhh, look. There’s Lewis,” Jackie chided Meghan. The screen flashed to Lewis Templeton standing in the lobby of the hotel, his face dark and his clothes still wrinkled.

“Mr. Templeton,” said a reporter offscreen. “Is it true that the Presidential Suite at the Sandy Bay Hotel is only accessible by a special key code?”

Lewis frowned. “Ms. Thomas did not die in my hotel,” he insisted. “She was killed outside of the hotel. Nothing happened in the Presidential Suite, the nicest accommodation offered in Sandy Bay. Nothing happened inside of the hotel, only outside of the hotel. That’s enough questions. Thank you.”

The screen flashed back to the red-headed reporter in the studio, a grim look on her face. “There you have it; Lewis Templeton, the manager of the Sandy Bay Hotel, insists that Ms. Thomas did not die inside of the hotel, but that she was killed outside of the hotel. Moving on to our next story of the night, the Sandy Bay Mugger. Sandy Bay citizens have reported an increase in muggings since the holidays have ended, and police are warning citizens to stay alert as they move about in public.”

“Great,” Jackie groaned. “Between the murderers and muggers on the loose, I think it’s best if I just stay inside my house for the next few months.”

Meghan shrugged. “That sounds like a good idea to me,” she said. “I don’t know what I would do if I met a mugger. I know a few moves from a karate class I took in Los Angeles, but in reality, would that really stop a mugger?”

Jackie laughed. “Wait. You took a karate class in LA? You hate exercising!”

Meghan rolled her eyes. “Why does everyone think that? Stand up, Jackie. I’ll show you my best move.”

Jackie obediently rose from the couch, and Meghan wrapped her arms around Jackie’s shoulders. She bent Jackie down, and used her knee to catch Jackie’s foot. “Try to move,” Meghan dared Jackie. “Ninja warrior Meghan Truman has you caught!”

Jackie giggled. “I can’t move,” she reported. “You got me, Truman.”

Meghan loosened her grip on Jackie’s shoulders. “I think that’s the only move I have,” she told her friend. “If something happened to me, I would have to hope that my dogs would be there to keep me safe.”

Jackie nodded. “Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that nothing happens to either of us.”

An hour later, Meghan buttoned up her long red winter coat and bid Jackie a good night. She carefully wound the three dogs into their respective harnesses, and carefully, she balanced a container of leftovers in her right hand.

“Alright, my doggies,” Meghan chirped to Fiesta, Siesta, and Dash. “I’m holding these tacos, so all of you need to be gentle as we walk home! No running around or being rowdy.”

At the street corners, Meghan looked both ways before dashing across to the other side. She shivered as a gust of frigid ocean air hit her face, and she wished she had driven to Jackie’s instead of walking. Fiesta and Siesta yelped with the cold, and Meghan gently bent down to comfort them.

“It’s okay, Fiesta and Siesta,” she told the two shivering dogs. “We’re almost home. Let’s pick up our pace a bit, and we’ll be snuggled up in bed before we know it.”

As Meghan rose to her feet, she sensed the presence of someone behind her. It was dark, and the streetlamp to her right was flickering in the wind. Meghan stood up and looked around, but seeing no one, she continued walking home.

“Come on, dogs,” Meghan whispered as she tugged their leashes tightly. “Let’s move faster.”

Once again, Meghan could sense someone was behind her. She heard footsteps, and she hastened her pace. The footsteps grew louder and louder, but when Meghan glanced behind her, she saw no one.

“What is going on?” Meghan thought to herself as she tugged the leashes. “Am I hearing things?”

Meghan turned around and proceeded, quickening her pace to a jog. She struggled to catch her breath, but when she heard the pounding of footsteps directly behind her, her heart began to thud in her chest. Meghan threw her leftovers to the side, abandoning the takeout box as she pulled on the leashes and began to sprint toward home. The sound of the footsteps became even louder, and Meghan began to scream. As she opened her mouth, an arm shot out of nowhere and covered her face.

“Be quiet,” a voice hissed as Meghan’s eyes bulged. “If you know what’s good for you, you will stay quiet and hand me your purse right now.”

Meghan nodded. She slipped her red purse off of her shoulder, shaking as she struggled to hold the dogs on their leashes. “Please don’t hurt me,” Meghan whispered as she slowly turned around to find a tall man standing before her.

“Just give me the purse, and nothing will happen,” the man growled.

Hit with a sudden burst of anger, Meghan snatched her purse back and held tightly to it. “You can’t just scare me and take my things,” she insisted, stomping her foot as Dash began to bark loudly. “I need my purse, and you can’t have it.”

The man bared his teeth at Meghan, and she could smell his sour breath. It was dark, and she couldn’t make out his features, but she could sense that he was dangerous.

“Stay away from me!” Meghan shouted as the man lunged toward her. She felt her grip on the dogs’ leashes loosen, and Fiesta and Siesta pulled away from her.

“Fiesta! Siesta!” Meghan called out to her dogs. “Stay, doggies! Stay. Don’t run away.”

The man grabbed Meghan’s ankles, and she tumbled to the ground. “Ouch,” she grumbled as she scraped her knee on the icy sidewalk.

“OWWWWW!” shouted Meghan’s attacker. She watched as Dash bit the man’s thigh, drawing blood and tearing his flesh. “Get your dog off of me. Call off the dog.”

“No!” Meghan cried. “Help! Help! This man is attacking me!”

Meghan watched as porch lights began to turn on. She heard a door open behind her. “Who is there?” the resident of the house called out.

“Help! It’s Meghan Truman! I’m being mugged!”

Meghan’s attacker threw Dash off of him and jumped to his feet. Meghan could see the hate in his eyes as he glowered at her, but then, he turned on his heel and ran off into the night.

“Are you okay?” asked an elderly woman from her front porch.

“That man tried to mug me,” Meghan told the woman, her whole body shaking.

“Do you need to call someone?” the woman asked. “A friend? Someone to take you home? My husband called the police, and they should be on their way.”

Meghan could hear the sirens in the distance. Knowing that Jack would soon hear of the incident, Meghan pulled out her phone and dialed his number.

“Meghan?” Jack answered. “I’m in a seminar, Babe. Can I call you back?”

“I was almost mugged, Jack,” Meghan wept, crumpling at the sound of her boyfriend’s voice. “A man came out of nowhere and started fighting with me for my purse. He almost took it, but then, I got mad. I tried to fight him off, but he almost got me.”

“Meghan,” Jack muttered. “Are you serious? Are you okay? I’m walking out of my seminar now. Do I need to come home?”

Meghan thought of the man and how terrified she had been, and she wanted nothing more than for Jack to come home. “I miss you, Babe,” Meghan whimpered. “I was so scared.”

“Let me see what I can do,” Jack whispered as the wail of police sirens grew closer to Meghan. “Did you see who the man was? Did you notice any details? Are the police on their way?”

“It’s so dark out here,” Meghan said. “If Dash hadn’t bit him on his leg, he would have run off with my bag.”

“I don’t care about your bag,” Jack said. “I care about you. You should have just let him take it.”

“I couldn’t help myself,” Meghan insisted.

“Well, think hard, Babe. Did you see anything? Any distinguishing features?”

Meghan thought for a moment, and then, she noticed a broken silver bracelet on the ground. She bent down to pick it up, wincing as she felt the large scrape on her knee from where her leg had hit the concrete.

“I think he dropped a bracelet,” Meghan told Jack, examining the trinket. “It’s a silver braided bracelet, and it sure isn’t mine.”

“Show the police,” Jack ordered Meghan as a squad car sidled up to the curb beside her. “Tell them everything you remember. With that Thomas woman being killed, and this mugging epidemic, I want this guy off the streets as soon as possible.”

“I’ll tell them everything I know,” Meghan assured Jack. “I just hope they can catch him soon. I don’t feel safe in Sandy Bay with someone that malicious on the loose.”

9

“Meghan? Are you alright?”

Meghan looked up as Lawrence stepped out of the police car. “Jack,” she said into the phone. “Lawrence just pulled up.”

“Oh, thank goodness,” Jack said in relief. “You’re in good hands. Can I talk to him for a second?”

Meghan handed the phone to Lawrence. “It’s Jack,” she explained.”

Lawrence nodded and spoke to Jack, his voice hushed as people began to pour from their houses to see what was going on. “Okay, I will make sure I take her in. Yes, I will ask Chief Nunan for protection for her until you get back. No problem. Talk soon, buddy.”

Lawrence gave the phone back to Meghan. “Lawrence is going to take care of things,” Jack explained to Meghan. “I’m going to try to get home tomorrow, if possible, but for now, Lawrence will make sure you are safe. Go with him to the police station to give your statement.”

“I will, Babe,” Meghan told Jack. “Thanks for looking out for me.”

“I’m just grateful Dash was there to help you,” Jack said. “For now, stick with Lawrence and keep your eyes open. I will be home soon. I love you. I am so sorry this happened.”

“I love you too,” Meghan said softly.

Meghan hung up the phone. She looked down at her leg and gasped; she had blood pouring from the scrape on her knee, and her hands were torn as well.

“We’ll need to fix you up,” Lawrence told Meghan, seeing the horrified look on her face. “Would you prefer to go to the hospital?”

“No,” Meghan said. “Just take me to the station to file the report. I would rather sit in Jack’s familiar office there than in the hospital.”

“Your wish is my command,” Lawrence told Meghan. He gathered the three dogs together and shepherded them into the back of his squad car. “You can sit up front,” he told Meghan, helping her to open the door of the front passenger seat. “Let me help you.”

Meghan’s legs quivered as she bent down to sit in the police car. Lawrence gently held her hand as she climbed in, careful to avoid touching the bruises and scrapes. “We’ll have someone come clean you up when we get to the station,” he assured Meghan. “I’m sure we have some spare clothes around, too. Your jeans look like they’ve seen their last day.”

Meghan looked down at her legs, embarrassed that the blood from her knee was dripping onto Lawrence’s seat. “I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I’m so gross right now.”

“Shhhhh,” Lawrence said as he buckled his seatbelt and turned on the engine. “I’m just glad that you are safe right now. Gross is better than dead, Meghan.”

At the station, Lawrence escorted Meghan to Jack’s office. “I’ll have Chief Nunan interview you in here,” he told her. “It’s kind of like home turf for you, isn’t it?”

Meghan nodded. “Thank you, Lawrence,” she whispered.

Lawrence smiled at Meghan and tipped his hat as he left. Five minutes later, Chief Nunan entered Jack’s office, her face dark.

“Meghan,” Chief Nunan began. “I’m so sorry to hear that you were mugged.”

“Well, it was an attempted mugging,” Meghan said as she held up her purse. “He didn’t get away with my things.”

Chief Nunan nodded. “Do you mind if I sit down? I need to take some notes.”

Meghan gestured at the chair beside her. “Please,” she said. “Let’s just begin. All I want now is to get home to my dogs. Lawrence said another officer is going to drop them off at my place?”

Chief Nunan nodded. “Yes, they are on the way to your place,” she confirmed. “And we will have an officer stationed outside of your place until Jack gets home. It’s the least we can do. Anyway, let me hear from you just exactly what happened.”

Meghan dove into her story, telling the Chief about her walk home, hearing the mugger’s footsteps, and how he ran away after Dash bit him in the leg. “I think I could have made it without Dash,” Meghan said. “The man didn’t seem too intimidating; I was just scared.”

“Duly noted,” Chief Nunan said. “Tell me what else happened.”

She told the Chief that the mugger dropped a silver bracelet, and she pulled the trinket out of her pocket to show the Chief. “He dropped this, too. Jack told me to bring it in.”

“May I see?” asked the Chief.

Meghan gave her the bracelet. “I’m going to have this sent off to the lab to collect DNA, if possible,” the Chief told Meghan. “Do you have any more details regarding the attack that you would like to be noted, Meghan?”

Meghan shook her head. “No, that’s all I remember,” she said.

The Chief nodded. “It sounds like this is the same guy who has been committing the other muggings,” she informed Meghan, her blue eyes dark with concern. “Your description of the attack, as well as your interaction with the attacker, makes me wonder if this guy also has something to do with Cathy Thomas’ death.”

“I wondered that myself,” Meghan admitted. “The attacker seemed so cold and heartless, and I could just imagine him attacking poor Cathy.”

Chief Nunan tucked a stray blonde hair back into her sleek bun. “Well, thank you for sharing your information,” she told Meghan. “I am going to see to it that you are well protected. Now, let me drive you home.”

In Chief Nunan’s squad car, Meghan leaned against the seat, exhausted by the events of the evening.

“You doing okay?” Chief Nunan asked.

“Just tired,” Meghan replied. “If I’m exhausted, you must be so tired, Chief. This is just a single incident for me, but this is your entire job.”

Chief Nunan laughed. “It’s my life,” she agreed. “I love this field. Has Jack ever mentioned to you how I got into the force to begin with?”

Meghan shook her head. “No, he hasn’t.”

“When I was a young woman,” Chief Nunan began. “I was in school to become an engineer. I always liked numbers and science, and it seemed like a perfect fit for me. I was doing well in my classes, too. I was at the top of my class at Stanford, and I had been accepted to a graduate program to specialize in industrial engineering.”

Meghan’s jaw dropped. “You were going to be an engineer? I can’t imagine you sitting behind a desk.”

Chief Nunan shrugged as she guided the car toward Meghan’s apartment. “It seemed like the right fit at the time. Anyway, one night, as I was walking home from my advisor’s office at Stanford, I was mugged. Two men stole my purse. It was pretty ugly. I was torn up about it.”

Meghan shook her head. “That sounds so scary,” she said.

Chief Nunan frowned. “It was scary, but the worse part was that they took my purse, and in my purse was a photograph of my dad. He passed away in the war when I was a baby, and I carried his picture in my purse for luck.”

Meghan felt the tears brim in her dark eyes. “That’s terrible,” she whispered.

“They took my purse, but they left me with two things,” Chief Nunan declared. “The first thing they left me with was this scar.” Chief Nunan pulled back her hat to reveal a long, thin white scar on her neck.

“Chief Nunan,” Meghan shrieked. “They did that to you?”

Chief Nunan nodded. “They did. They left me with a scar, but they also left me with a dream. The mugging incident inspired me to leave Stanford and become a police officer. I wanted to protect people--especially young women. I wanted to feel empowered to protect myself and to protect others. I wanted to fight for justice, and I wanted to use my experience to help others.”

A single tear fell from Meghan’s eyes. “That is so beautiful,” she told the Chief as they pulled up to Meghan’s apartment. “Thank you for sharing your story with me.”

“Of course,” Chief Nunan said. “I want you to know that you are not alone. It can be terrifying to be a young woman in this world, but I am here for you if you ever need anything.”

“Thank you,” Meghan murmured.

“I am going to personally see to it that this mugger is caught,” the Chief declared. “I can’t say for certain yet if the murder and the muggings are connected, but I will be looking into that as well. Sometimes, those freelance muggers can become desperate, but I feel like this was planned. The blow to her head was on the back, and it looked like she didn’t expect it. But, I will continue to investigate. You just hang in there, Meghan. Take good care of yourself.”

“I will,” Meghan told the Chief as she hoisted herself out of the police car, wondering if the mugger would come back for her. “I will.”

10

The next afternoon, Meghan was still shaken from the attack. Her hands were jittery, her heart pounded when she heard footsteps, and she could not shake the tight, stifling grip of anxiety on her heart. She didn’t want to go to work; with her quivering hands and nervous breath, Meghan could hardly tie her apron around her neck as she prepared to start her day.

“You look like you need a rest, Meghan,” Trudy firmly told her as she entered the kitchen, the dark circles under her eyes evident to all who saw her. “Pamela and I can take care of things today. You went through something terrible last night. Let us do the work around here, Meghan.”

Meghan shook her head. “I have to be strong,” she told Trudy. “If I let a mugger ruin my day or affect my business, then I am letting him win,” she declared, her voice shaky, but sure. “I need to hold my head high and go about my day. I don’t want anyone to think that a mugger got the best of Meghan Truman.”

Trudy rolled her eyes. “That’s a nice speech,” she told Meghan. “But my dear, sometimes, in order to best take care of yourself, you have to take a step back. If you keep barreling on with work and your life as though nothing happened, you could break down. And breaking down is how you let him win, Meghan. You have to take care of yourself.”

Meghan shrugged. She crossed her arms defensively in front of her chest, and then, she realized that one of her newly-done nails had broken. “Ugh,” she groaned as she looked at her fingers. “The mugger must have broken one of my nails.”

“That’s it,” Trudy announced. “Meghan, I am going to step in and be the boss for a minute. You are going to work until noon today, and then, you are going to march yourself over to Jackie’s salon and get that nail taken care of. After you leave, I don’t want to see your face until tomorrow morning. You need some time to yourself. Do you understand?”

Meghan’s heart swelled as Trudy’s maternal side came out, and she reached to hug her. “Thank you,” Meghan whispered into Trudy’s ear. “I will give Jackie a call in a bit to see if she can squeeze me in for an appointment.”

“And if she can’t, I will just send you upstairs to your apartment for some rest and relaxation,” Trudy decided. “You need to take care of yourself.”

Seeing a group of well-dressed women enter the bakery, Meghan straightened her back and plastered a smile on her face. “Good morning, ladies,” she called out to the group, eying their expensive handbags, perfectly-positioned highlights, and knee-high leather boots. “Welcome to Truly Sweet.”

One of the young women approached Meghan at the counter. She was strikingly beautiful, with long raven hair, bright green eyes, and the highest cheekbones Meghan had ever seen. “Meghan Truman? Do you remember us? We were at Mariah Cooper’s little soiree.”

Meghan smiled. “Yes, I thought you all looked familiar,” she told the woman. “I’m glad to see you. I hope you are all doing okay; the loss of Cathy following the party was such a shock.”

The raven-haired woman nodded earnestly. “It was horrible,” she whispered to Meghan. “Tia, my friend over there, found a gray hair the morning after. A gray hair! The stress is getting to all of us, clearly.”

Meghan frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “I hope we can make your day a bit sweeter. What brings you ladies in today?”

The raven-haired woman batted her eyelashes. “We usually don’t do this,” she confessed to Meghan, leaning in. “But with the news of that mugger, as well as Cathy’s death, we decided to have a little cheat day.”

“A cheat day?” Meghan asked in confusion.

“A cheat day,” the woman confirmed. “We usually have healthy diets; I myself only eat organic chicken breast, spinach, and fresh raspberries. Today, though, the girls and I decided that we need some comfort food. We want to indulge a little, and Tia, my friend, remembered your treats from the event at the hotel.”

“Well, this is certainly a place to indulge,” Meghan said, gesturing to the many desserts in the display case. “We have some delightful German chocolate cake that was made fresh this morning, or some macaroons that will be out of the oven in only minutes. What do you think?”

The woman wrinkled her nose. “Those sound nice,” she said. “But one of the girls took a teensy bite of your King Cake at the event, and that’s all she has been talking about. Can we split one?”

Meghan nodded. “I have a fresh King Cake in the back,” she told her. “If you ladies want to seat yourselves, I’ll have someone bring tea and coffee out, and I will warm the cake for you.”

“Excellent,” the woman grinned. “We’ll sit right over there.”

Meghan sent Pamela over to serve the ladies, and when she returned to their table with a platter of King cake, their faces grew bright. “It looks even better than I remember!” Tia exclaimed.

“Let’s dig in, girls,” the raven-haired woman declared.

The women devoured the cake, and Meghan was thrilled when they left her a hefty tip at the end of their visit. “We’ll be back on our next cheat day,” the raven-haired woman assured Meghan. “Your cake was to die for.”

As the women left, Trudy intercepted Meghan. “It’s time for you to leave,” she told her. “It’s past noon, and you need to go get your nails done.”

“I haven’t had the chance to call Jackie yet,” Meghan protested. “And we have customers in the middle of eating. I can’t just leave.”

“Yes, you can,” Trudy insisted. “Go upstairs, change out of your work clothes, and call Jackie.”

Meghan obeyed Trudy, slipping her dirty apron over her head and trudging up the stairs. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed Jackie’s number.

“I was just about to call you,” Jackie said in a hushed voice. “Meghan, I made a fool of myself.”

Meghan wrinkled her nose. “What do you mean, Jackie?”

“Chief Nunan called me to let me know that she was sending an officer over to the salon to interview me about the murder. She said that they had some questions about my whereabouts the night of the death, and they wanted to find out more about why I was at the hotel.”

“That sounds about right,” Meghan told Jackie. “They look at everyone’s whereabouts and stories when they deal with a murder. It sounds like Chief Nunan had some pretty standard questions. What did you say to her?”

“That’s the problem,” Jackie croaked. “She sent Lawrence, that hunk of an officer, out to talk to me. Meghan, he is gorgeous. I want to run my hands through those dark curls of his. And that jawline? He is a babe.”

Meghan laughed. “I’ll have to tell Jack you said that. Maybe we can set you two up and double date?”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Jackie moaned. “I didn’t expect such a cutie pie to show up at my door, and I acted like a fool, Meghan. I could hardly speak. When he looked at me, I lost all ability to speak. I sounded like such a loser.”

“I’m sure that isn’t true. The police are used to people feeling awkward and tense in interviews. It probably went better than you thought.”

“I hope you’re right,” Jackie said. “Anyway, what did you call me for? What’s up?”

“One of my nails broke last night,” Meghan told Jackie.

“Oh no. How did that happen?” Jackie asked.

“It’s….a long story,” Meghan murmured, not wanting to recount the mugging. “I have some time right now. Could I run over and have the nail fixed?”

“Yeah, it’s quiet around here today,” Jackie said. “Why don’t you come on over?”

“Awesome. I’ll see you in a few.”

When Meghan arrived at the salon, she was pleasantly surprised to find that there were no customers. She wasn’t in the mood to make small talk, and Meghan was happy to relax and spend time with her friend.

“Thank you for squeezing me in,” Meghan told Jackie as Jackie greeted her.

“No problem,” Jackie said. “I’m happy to see you.”

Meghan settled into the chair at one of the manicure stations, feeling luxurious as she sank into the leather seat. Jackie examined her hands. “How did this nail come off?” she asked as she looked at Meghan’s pointer finger, the nail torn and the skin jagged. “Meghan? This didn’t happen while you were baking, did it?”

Meghan sighed. “I didn’t want to tell you,” she began. “But I was mugged last night as I walked home from your house.”

Jackie gasped. “You were mugged? Were you hurt? Did they take anything? Oh Meghan, I am so sorry. Are you okay?”

Meghan felt tears brim in her dark eyes, and she took a long breath. “It was terrifying,” she told Jackie. “He came out of nowhere, and he tried to take my purse. Dash bit him in the leg, and he ran off, but I’m pretty upset.”

“I’m sure,” Jackie said. “What an awful thing to go through. I’m so glad you are safe, Meghan.”

“Me too,” Meghan murmured.

“Hey,” a cool voice greeted Meghan and Jackie. They turned to see Rosie Jakes march into the salon.

“Rosie,” Jackie said. “It’s nice to see you today. Are you here to drop off the remaining balance for the salon day?”

Rosie nodded. “Yes,” she said. “Here’s the check.”

Jackie beamed. “Thank you for such a wonderful opportunity,” she told Rosie as she opened the envelope. “It didn’t end the way we hoped, but I’m glad that we were able to partner together to create such a fun, relaxing day for Mariah and her friends.”

“Our friends,” Rosie corrected.

“Of course,” Jackie apologized as she looked down at the check. She frowned. “Rosie, this is not the amount we agreed on,” she said. “Will there be another check?”

“No,” Rosie told her. “We agreed on an amount that was meant to compensate you for two days of service. You only worked for one day.”

Jackie’s eyes widened. “But Cathy Thomas died that evening,” she argued. “And no one responded to my calls or texts when I reached out regarding the plans for the next day.”

Rosie shrugged. “That isn’t my problem,” she informed Jackie. “You signed a contract that says you would be paid for working two days. You worked one day. Mariah Cooper is not going to pay you in full if you can’t provide the fullest experience.”

Jackie glared at Rosie. “You can’t be serious. You never returned my calls. I tried to reach out to see if you wanted me to come back. This is on you, Rosie. You should be writing a check to me yourself.”

Rosie placed her hands on her hips. “Oh really?”

Jackie nodded. “Really. I can see right through you, Rosie. You’re riding on Mariah’s coattails, and everyone knows it. It’s cute that she has a little lackey to do her work for her, like arranging spa days and dropping off checks.”

Rosie held her hands up and dropped them down quickly, banging them against Jackie’s counter. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that,” she roared as Meghan and Jackie’s jaws dropped. “You know who I am, and you know who my crowd is. Don’t mess with me, Jenny.”

“It’s Jackie,” Jackie whispered, stunned by Rosie’s outburst.

“Whatever,” Rosie said, regaining her composure and smoothing her hair. “Take what I’m giving you and be grateful. You signed a contract, Jackie, and if you want to keep up this little tiff, I can have Mariah’s lawyer in here, pronto. In fact, I think I see some mold on the walls.”

Jackie’s eyes widened. “Those walls are freshly painted and clean. There is no mold!”

Rosie rolled her eyes. “That’s what you say, but I don’t know...I think I see some mold. I might just have to have the health inspector drop by at Mariah’s insistence…”

“I’ll take the check,” Jackie pleaded. “I’m done arguing. Thank you for the opportunity.”

“Of course,” Rosie said, flashing a bright smile as she turned on her Prada heels to leave. “It was a pleasure, Jackie. A real pleasure.”

11

“Siesta, sit,” Meghan commanded as Siesta pawed at her hand. “Mama needs to order some ingredients online for a new recipe, and you are not helping her.”

Meghan leaned back against her pillows and refreshed the browser on her red laptop, happy to be settled in her bed after the stressful afternoon at the salon. She hadn’t expected Rosie Jakes to burst in unannounced, and Rosie’s rudeness had been quite a shock. Jackie had been speechless when Rosie left, and Meghan felt terrible for her friend.

“Let’s see,” Meghan said aloud as she browsed the online cane sugar boutique. “This type looks good, but I don’t think it would melt well in the oven. I love the color of this sugar, but the grains are too large for the dish.”

Siesta wriggled her way down from Meghan’s bed and began sniffing underneath Meghan’s dresser. The dog wagged her tail back and forth in excitement, and Meghan was curious as to what Siesta had found.

“What do you have there?” Meghan asked. “What are you looking at, Siesta?”

Meghan placed her laptop on her bedside table and got up from her bed. She bent down to see what her dog had been looking at beneath the dresser. “It’s a photo album,” Meghan exclaimed as she removed a large burgundy book from the floor. “I’ve been looking for this. Siesta, you good girl!”

Meghan leaned against the side of her bed, opening the burgundy photo album. She smiled as she looked at a picture of herself holding hands with Jack; he had called earlier to tell her that he wouldn’t be able to make it home for a few more days, and Meghan missed him desperately.

“Look at Karen and me,” Meghan cried in delight as she turned to a picture of herself and Karen posing in front of the Hollywood sign. “This was one of our first outings together,” Meghan murmured. “Karen and I have been through so much together. From Los Angeles to Sandy Bay, she is a friend I never want to lose. In fact, I need to check in on her; it’s been a few days since we’ve spoken, and I need to make sure she is doing alright after her mugging...now I know what it feels like to be the victim of such a crime, and we need to stick together!”

Meghan put away the scrapbook and reached for her cell phone. She hopped back into bed, careful not to crush Fiesta, who was sleeping soundly. Meghan dialed Karen’s number, and was delighted when she answered.

“It’s good to hear your voice,” Karen said worriedly. “I heard about what happened to you, Sweetie. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner. Are you alright?”

“I’m still shaken,” Meghan admitted as she scratched Siesta’s forehead. “It really takes a lot out of you, you know?”

“I do know,” Karen agreed. “I’m feeling better myself, though. I had a nice pity party for myself the day it happened, but now, I feel like myself again. I’m not going to let some low-life mugger steal my zest for life, Meghan, and I hope you don’t either.”

“You are just the person I needed to talk to,” Meghan told Karen. “You are so upbeat and positive, and that’s what I needed to hear.”

“I’m always here for you, Sweetie,” Karen told her. “Say, I was going to call you about this later, so I’m glad we’ve connected. I decided that I am going to take some martial arts classes at the recreational center. I want to be able to properly defend myself in case anything happens again. You know how I love fitness classes.”

Meghan laughed, thinking of the hundreds of yoga, Pilates, zumba, free weights, ballet, barre, and swim cardio classes Karen had dragged her to over the last few years. “I do know that you love your workouts,” Meghan giggled.

“I think martial arts would be the perfect thing to get my mind off of feeling sorry for myself, and to get my body trained to fight,” Karen declared. “We women have to be tough as nails in this world, and I know that some slick moves would help me feel safer. What do you think, Meghan? Do you want to join me? The class is free with a Sandy Bay ID card, and even if it is just silly, we would have fun together.”

“Yes,” Meghan said without hesitation. “Let’s do it.”

“Really?” Karen asked in amazement. “Usually I have to beg you to come to classes with me.”

“I need to feel safer,” Meghan told her friend. “I want to be stronger, and safer, and I think taking a martial arts class will help me feel better after what happened the other night. I’m in, Karen. Sign me up.”

The next morning, Karen and Meghan met up outside of the recreational center, both dressed in matching martial arts outfits. Meghan had hastily purchased the white smock and matching leggings that morning, and while she thought the ensemble made her look frumpy, she hoped eventually, it would get her into the mindset of martial arts.

“You look fabulous, Sweetie,” Karen shouted as Meghan walked up. “White is definitely one of your colors.”

Meghan stared at Karen’s uniform; it fit Karen perfectly, and Karen looked fierce and strong in the white canvas outfit. “Yours looks so good, Karen,” Meghan told her friend.

“I had it specially made,” Karen said gleefully. “I always feel like if I dress well, I perform well, so I made sure to have my tailor do some nipping and tucking here and there.”

“Maybe I’ll grow into mine?” Meghan joked as she tugged at the loose fabric pooling around her waist.

“You look adorable,” Karen assured her. “It’s not about how you look, though. It’s about how you feel. And I am ready to feel like a fierce, fabulous fighter!”

Karen led Meghan inside of the recreational center and down a long, narrow hallway. “This reminds me of the karate competitions I used to do as a teenager,” Karen whispered to Meghan as they entered the large, airy practice room. “I had a black belt by the time I was thirteen, and I was the only girl in my division, too.”

Meghan’s jaw dropped. “You competed in karate competitions?”

Karen smiled. “I’m a Karen-of-all-trades, my dear,” she joked. “Now, let’s have a seat; it looks like the sensei is about to begin.”

As if on cue, a tall, muscular woman entered the room and glided to the front. With her auburn hair tucked into a top-knot, a strong jawline, and high cheekbones, she looked both fierce and fabulous, the two qualities Meghan was seeking to find in the class.

“Welcome, everyone,” the sensei murmured as she lowered herself to a cross-legged seat on the wooden floor. “I am honored to be teaching your class today. My name is Sharon, and I hope that we will learn from each other on this journey.”

“She’s great,” Meghan whispered to Karen. “I like her already. Will she be the teacher for each session?”

“I don’t know,” Karen said. “But I hope so.”

Sharon continued. “Today, we will be working on some lighter moves to prepare our bodies for the difficult positions we will learn next week.”

“Oh, good,” Meghan thought. “We’ll ease into this martial arts thing.”

“But let me begin by telling all of you a story,” the sensai announced. “When I was a young girl, I felt helpless and weak. The world told me that women should be meek and sweet, not strong and powerful. When I went away to school, one day, I was mugged.”

“Just like us,” Karen hissed to Meghan. “See? She can relate!”

“I was mugged, and my heart was broken. I felt weak and sad, but after some self-examination, I knew that I needed to grow my strength and become the powerful woman I was destined to be. I began studying martial arts. I found myself through my study, and now, I am affirmed in my strength and power. No matter the reason you decided to show up here today, you are all here for a reason. Ladies and gentlemen, you are all strong, mighty beings, and it is my honor to work with you today.”

“That was such a good speech,” Meghan said to Karen. “She seems to really get it. I’m excited to learn from her.”

“But today, you will not just be learning from me,” Sharon said.

“Ugh,” Meghan groaned. “I really like her. I don’t want another teacher.”

“You will be learning with our special guest. This guest was my sensei when I was a young, lost girl. I trained under this sensei for years and have learned everything from them. Her power and might is unmistakable, and it is my honor to introduce her.”

The class began to clap. “And now, my sensei!”

Meghan gasped as the sensei walked into the room. It was none other than Sally Sheridan, one of the oldest ladies in town. Mrs. Sheridan was notorious for her grumpiness, but she and Meghan had connected a few months prior. While Mrs. Sheridan was still fussy with her at times, Meghan knew that Sally had a heart of gold and only the best intentions.

“I am the sensei,” Mrs. Sheridan announced to the room. She was dressed in a red smock, holding her cane to support her. “I trained Sharon many years ago, and it is my pleasure to train some of you today.”

Sharon smiled at Mrs. Sheridan. “Mrs. Sheridan here has agreed to do a demonstration today,” Sharon told the class. “We are going to do a martial arts fight together, right here in front of you.”

“She’s going to fight Mrs. Sheridan?” Meghan gasped. “But Mrs. Sheridan is so old!”

“Hey, don’t you hate on us oldies,” Karen teased. “We are strong, too.”

Meghan giggled. “Whoops. I didn’t mean it like that, Karen.”

“Hush, Meghan Truman,” Mrs. Sheridan ordered. “I hear you talking back there.”

“Sorry, Mrs. Sheridan,” Meghan apologized.

Sharon turned to Mrs. Sheridan. Both women bowed toward each other, and then, they began to fight. While Sharon was quick, Mrs. Sheridan was strong. She used her cane to fight, weaving it in and out of Sharon’s legs as the two women moved back and forth.

“Look at her go,” Meghan exclaimed. “Mrs. Sheridan is kicking Sharon’s butt! I didn’t expect that.”

Mrs. Sheridan avoided a blow from Sharon’s elbow. She leaned the opposite direction, and then stuck her cane between Sharon’s arms, trapping Sharon and winning the fight.

“She has persevered,” Sharon told the class, her breath choppy. “My sensei has defeated me. I hope you all have learned something from our demonstration today, and I hope you have enjoyed this exhibition of Mrs. Sheridan’s fine-tuned skills.”

The class nodded silently, all in amazement that Mrs. Sheridan had won the fight. “It’s all about your momentum,” Mrs. Sheridan declared as she dramatically took a bow in front of the awestruck class. “Remember, use your advantages and strengths, and don’t think about your weaknesses. Focusing on your weaknesses makes you weaker, but thinking of your strengths makes you better.”

“Wow,” Meghan whispered to Karen. “Her moves were amazing. I wonder if I’m ever going to have those kind of moves.”

“You will,” Karen told Meghan as they rose to their feet to begin their stretches. “You will.”

12

“Thanks for bringing me along today,” Pamela chirped as she and Meghan perused the fruit section of the indoor winter farmer’s market.

“Of course,” Meghan said. “Your idea to put strawberries into the next batch of King Cake is wonderful, and you are the perfect person to bring along for some shopping.”

“I just learn so much from you,” Pamela gushed as Meghan guided her to the bins of strawberries. “You have taught me so much about baking, business, and being a good person, and I love spending time with you.”

Meghan’s heart swelled at the praise from her teenage employee. “Pamela, that is so sweet of you to say,” she told her. “Hiring you was one of the best decisions I’ve made as a business owner, and I hope you will be around for as long as possible.”

Pamela’s face paled. “Speaking of that…” she said nervously. “I have something I want to talk to you about.”

Meghan returned a box of under-ripe strawberries to the bin and turned to face Pamela. “What is it?”

Pamela took a deep breath. “I’m going to college next year, Meghan.”

Meghan laughed. “I know that,” she told Pamela. “You are a junior in high school. We’ve talked about it. You’re going to Sandy Bay Community College, which will be so nice because you can still work part-time, if you’d like.”

Pamela shook her head. “Meghan, I have a dream,” she said softly as her eyes widened. “I want to do what you do. I want to own and operate my own bakery.”

Meghan beamed. “That is an amazing dream,” she told the girl. “And I am proud of you for dreaming big. How can I help you achieve your dream, Pamela?”

Pamela bit her lip. “I want to study cooking, Meghan, and the best place to do it is in either Paris, Rome, or Buenos Aires.”

Meghan clapped her hands in excitement. “Pamela, if that’s what you want to do, then I am so excited for you. You are an amazing young woman. I would be sad to lose you at the bakery, but if you were to live out your dreams, live abroad, and learn to do some real cooking, then I would feel such joy!”

Pamela smiled. “Really? I was so worried you would be mad. I know you were sad when Lori, that girl who worked for you, went to college.”

Meghan shook her head. “Your well-being is important to me,” she told Pamela. “You are a great girl, and if you want to pursue your dreams, then I am behind you.”

Pamela wrapped her arms around Meghan. “You are the best,” she told her. “I was running around with the wrong crowds before I started working at the bakery, and now, I can create anything and everything in an oven. Meghan, you’ve changed my life, and I am so thankful for you.”

Meghan held back happy tears. “I’m happy to have you on the team, Pamela.”

Both women jumped as Meghan’s phone began to ring. “It’s Lewis Templeton,” Meghan told Pamela. “Sorry, let me take this.”

“Meghan,” Lewis greeted her. “How are you doing?”

“I’m doing okay,” Meghan told Lewis. “It’s been a difficult couple of days, but you know that.”

“I do,” Lewis agreed. “Look, one of my staff members found another one of your trays. I can have it dropped off to you later tonight.”

“No, don’t bother,” Meghan said. “I’m just around the corner from the hotel; I am out shopping with one of my employees, and we can swing by in a few minutes to grab the tray.”

“That would be nice,” Lewis said. “I will make sure it is waiting for you at the desk in the lobby. Toodles.”

“Bye, Lewis.”

Meghan saw Pamela’s eyes were bright with excitement. “Do we get to go to the Sandy Bay Hotel?” Pamela squealed.

Meghan nodded. “We need to pick up one of my trays.”

“I’ve never been inside before,” Pamela shrieked. “I heard it is the fanciest place in town.”

“It is pretty nice,” Meghan agreed. “Let’s finish up choosing our strawberries, and then we will make our way over there.”

“I’m so excited,” Pamela told Meghan.

“I couldn’t tell,” Meghan said with a laugh.

Fifteen minutes later, Meghan and Pamela walked into the hotel lobby. “This is so pretty,” Pamela whispered to Meghan as she gazed at the Persian rugs, the chandeliers, and the marble staircase in the center of the room. “Meghan, it looks like a palace in here.”

Meghan and Pamela walked to the front desk. “I’m here to pick something up,” she told the assistant. “I’m Meghan Truman.”

“Meghan Truman,” a soft voice called out.

“Mariah Cooper!” Pamela gasped as Mariah floated toward them from across the room.

“Mariah,” Meghan said quietly. “It’s good to see you. How are you holding up?”

Mariah sniffled, her nose red and her face pale. “It’s been hard,” she confessed. “Cathy was a few years older than us, but in college, she, Rosie, and I were always together. Everyone called us the Three Amigas. We were all in the same sorority, we all played on the tennis team, and we were all in the same art clubs. We were so close back then...we’ve drifted here and there since, but I loved Cathy like a sister, really.”

Meghan placed a hand on Mariah’s thin shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss,” she murmured.

“I’m sorry, too,” Pamela sputtered.

Mariah smiled warmly at Pamela. “And who is this?”

“This is my employee, Pamela,” Meghan told Mariah. “She is a huge asset to my bakery, and I am so thankful for her help.”

Mariah nodded. “It’s nice to meet you, Pamela,” she said softly. “Come, why don’t you girls come upstairs with me? I’m staying in one of the penthouse suites on the fourth floor. We can visit and have some tea. What do you think?”

Pamela nodded vigorously, but Meghan shook her head. “We don’t want to be in your way…”

“You won’t be,” Mariah assured her. “It would be nice to have some company; I’ve felt so off and lonely this week, and I want a distraction. Please? It would be my pleasure to host you two girls for a bit.”

Pamela looked longingly at Mariah, and then turned her gaze to Meghan. “Please, Meghan? She said she wants us to come.”

Meghan smiled. “Sure. Lead the way, Mariah.”

Mariah gestured toward the public elevator. “No private elevators to my suite this time,” she said good-naturedly. “My room is much more modest than the Presidential Suite.”

Mariah’s “modest” hotel room was enormous and extravagant; with its three bedrooms, private balcony, and private hot tub, the suite was nicer than any hotel Meghan had ever stayed in. The rooms were spacious and airy, with contemporary decorations and modern art covering the walls. The furniture was similar to the furniture in the Presidential Suite, and large leather divans and loveseats made the sitting room appear to be very comfortable.

“It’s cozy, that’s for sure,” Mariah said as she welcomed Pamela and Meghan into the suite. “Have a seat, girls. I’ll have one of my staff bring us some coffee.”

“This is real leather,” Pamela squealed to Meghan as Mariah glided out of the room. “And look at the rug. Is that real cow skin?”

Meghan grimaced. “It probably is,” she told Pamela. “Don’t think about it too much.”

“Nancy will bring us coffee momentarily,” Mariah announced as she floated back into the room and sat down delicately on the brown leather divan. “Meghan, I hear you had a little...chat with Rosie the other day?”

Meghan bit her lip. “Yes,” she confirmed. “Although I wouldn’t call it little.”

Mariah nodded sympathetically. “Rosie told me what happened, and I am so sorry that she had a little outburst,” she apologized. “Rosie has such drive and ambition, but she can be intense sometimes. That intensity has allowed her to rise to the top as my assistant, but I know it can be concerning at times.”

Meghan smiled. “Thank you for saying that,” she told Mariah. “I just felt bad for Jackie, my friend who was in charge of the pampering day. Jackie worked so hard to make things perfect for you, and Rosie didn’t pay her the full sum of what she promised.”

Mariah lifted an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

Meghan nodded. “Jackie was upset when Rosie came to the salon, and Rosie even threatened her….”

Mariah closed her eyes and took a long breath. “I am so embarrassed,” she lamented. “Rosie’s temper is going to get her into trouble. Meghan, tell me how much Jackie was owed, and I will write a check myself.”

Meghan shrugged. “I don’t know the details,” she admitted. “But I know it was for a lot of money.”

Mariah rose to her feet and dashed out of the room. She returned holding a small silver checkbook and a matching pen. “I am going to send a blank check to her,” she declared. “Mariah Cooper does not go back on her promises, and Mariah Cooper always fulfills her obligations. My reputation is important to me, and I wouldn’t want anyone, including Jackie, to think that I don’t keep my word.”

Meghan smiled. “Your kindness will be so appreciated.”

Mariah shook her head. “It isn’t kindness, Meghan. It’s good business. Pamela? You remember that, okay, dear?”

Pamela nodded. “You are so pretty and nice,” she told Mariah. “I heard Ms. Thomas was nice, too. Why do you think she was killed?”

“Pamela!” Meghan said sharply. “How could you say something so rude?”

“It’s fine,” Mariah told her solemnly. “Pamela, Cathy was a loud, fun, outgoing woman. She had big opinions, and nice taste. She was larger-than-life. She wasn’t always the kindest, but she had a good heart. I don’t know who killed her, or why, but mark my words: just as I’ve taken steps to make reparations with Jackie, I will take even more steps to make sure my friend’s death is avenged and the killer brought to justice.”

“You really don’t have an idea who killed Cathy?” Meghan asked as she leaned back onto the black leather armchair. “Did she have any enemies?”

Mariah sighed. “Cathy’s past was...complicated,” she told Meghan. “She was always mouthing off to someone, or making someone angry. I never thought that someone would hurt her, though.”

Pamela perked up. “What do you mean? A complicated past? Was she in trouble?”

Meghan shook her head. “I’m sorry she is being so rude,” she told Mariah.

“She’s just young and curious,” Mariah said dismissively. “Really, it is fine. Anyway, Cathy’s past was colorful, and her many adventures often caught up with her. I honestly thought that now she was older and more established, her life would quiet down. I guess I was mistaken.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. “Was she caught up in the wrong crowd, or some shady business?”

Mariah frowned. “Not that I know of, but these days, who knows? She traveled a lot, and she spent quite a bit of time abroad. She never shared much from her travels, and I wonder if maybe she got mixed up in some trouble on her last trip? She just returned from a two-month jaunt to Singapore, and she was awfully tight-lipped about her activities on the trip. I don’t know, Meghan, but honestly, this conversation is upsetting me. I think perhaps it would be best if you two would go.”

Meghan rose to her feet and gestured for Pamela to join her. “Of course,” she told Mariah. “This whole thing is so tragic, and I’m sorry we upset you.”

“It’s fine,” Mariah said, smiling weakly as she escorted them out of the suite and into the hallway. “Thank you both for stopping by. I hope you have a quiet, peaceful day.”

“We will,” Meghan told her. “Well, we’ll try to.

“Hey, Meghan? One more thing…”

“Yes, Mariah?” Meghan asked curiously

Mariah took a deep breath. “Be careful if you go searching through Cathy’s past,” she said. “I don’t know what or who you will find, but I can assure you, it probably won’t be pretty. Be careful...be very careful.”

13

It was a late night at the bakery, and Meghan, Trudy, and Pamela were working late to fill a last-minute order that had come in earlier in the afternoon. The three women had been working for nearly nine hours straight to finish the order, and everyone was growing more grouchy as the hours ticked by.

“She knows something,” Pamela declared out of nowhere as she kneaded a lump of pasty dough. “I can tell by the look in her eyes. Mariah Cooper knows what happened to Cathy Thomas, and I just know it.”

“Pamela!” Meghan chided her young employee. “This is none of your business. I shouldn’t have taken you to the hotel; you have not been able to stop talking about Mariah Cooper and her business, and I really wish you would stop.”

Trudy nodded. “That is enough, Pamela,” she agreed. “You need to be more respectful of Ms. Cooper during this time of hardship.”

Pamela hung her head. “I’m sorry,” she muttered as she sprinkled more flour into her ball of dough. “You are both right.”

Meghan glanced at the clock, realizing it was one in the morning. “I’ve kept you both far too long,” she apologized as she wiped her messy hands on her apron. “This order is almost finished, and I can put the final touches on it in the morning. How about you two call it a night? I think we could all use a break from each other.”

Trudy nodded. “Yes, I think it’s time I get home.”

Pamela agreed. “I’m taking the late bus to my grandma’s,” she told Meghan. “I should really get going.”

“Let me send a treat with you two,” Meghan said as she wrapped up two thick slices of King Cake. “Take these with you.”

“Thank you, Meghan,” Trudy said as she slipped the cake into her purse and buttoned her coat. “I will see you bright and early tomorrow.”

“How about we start a little later tomorrow?” Meghan asked. “We have been working so hard, and I think we will start around ten tomorrow.”

“That sounds great,” Pamela agreed. “I can sleep in!”

“Yes,” Meghan confirmed. “Sleep in, rest up, and I will see you both tomorrow.”

Pamela and Trudy left the shop, and Meghan went to lock the doors. She bent down to adjust the deadbolt and realized that Pamela had dropped her scarf on the wooden floor.

“Uh oh,” she said. “Pamela’s scarf. The late buses don’t have heat, and I don’t want her to get cold. I had better go after her.”

Meghan bundled up, fastening her long red coat around her and placing a white sock cap on her head. She shivered as she pushed the door open and strode out into the night.

“Maybe I should have brought one of the dogs,” Meghan thought to herself as she trudged toward the bus stop. “It’s awfully dark out here, and I would feel better if Dash were with me. That’s what I will do. I am going to run home and grab the dog, and then go back to the bus stop to give Pamela her scarf.”

Just before Meghan could turn around, she heard footsteps behind her. Her heart sank as the footsteps grew closer, and she felt her body turn cold.

“Who is there?” Meghan shouted. “Hello?”

Meghan turned around. No one was behind her. She reached into her pocket and grabbed her cell phone. “I’m going to call the police,” Meghan warned as she began to walk back toward the bakery. “I have my cell phone right here, and I won’t hesitate to call.”

Meghan began to dial her phone, but before she could complete her call to the police, her phone was knocked out of her hands. “Put that down,” a man’s voice warned her.

Meghan shrieked. It was the mugger. He was back, and he had found her. Her mouth dropped open, and she began to shake. Tears poured from her eyes, and the mugger grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look at him. “You again?!” the mugger growled, a look of surprise spread across his face. “Your dog tore up my leg real bad last time, girly. I’m glad you don’t have those mutts with you today.”

The mugger reached for Meghan’s red purse. He tore the strap, and Meghan was overcome with rage as she watched her broken purse fall to the snowy ground. She clenched her hands into fists, and remembering the martial arts lesson, she began to fight.

“Get away from me!” Meghan screamed as she darted to the right of the mugger. He turned around, but Meghan jabbed his face with her elbow as he lunged for her.

“Look what you did,” the mugger cried out, blood pouring from his nose. “I’ll make sure you’re real sorry for this.”

The mugger wiped his bloody hands on his pants and dove for Meghan. He grabbed onto her ponytail and tugged hard, causing Meghan to yelp in pain. “Get off of me,” she hissed, kicking her legs in hopes that she would reach the mugger’s face.

Meghan took a deep breath, remembering Mrs. Sheridan’s urging to always stay calm when involved in a face to face combat. She looked at the mugger, watching as he clenched his hand into a tight fist and reared it back. Just as his fist was about to make contact with her face, Meghan moved to the left, causing the mugger to fall on the ground. He struggled to get up off of the icy sidewalk, and Meghan jumped onto his back, tucking his upper body into a tight headlock.

“I think you are the one who is going to be sorry,” she told her attacker as she grabbed her phone from the ground and dialed 911. “The police will be here soon, and I practiced this headlock for hours. You aren’t getting away from me, and you are going to pay for what you’ve done.”

Within two minutes, the police had arrived at the scene. Lawrence immediately removed Meghan from the attacker and placed handcuffs on the mugger. Chief Nunan was also there, and she pulled Meghan aside.

“Are you alright?” Chief Nunan asked Meghan. “We got your 911 call, and when no one was talking to the operator, we sent a squad car out. I just happened to be riding along with Lawrence tonight, and boy, am I glad I was here.”

Meghan smiled, her heart still beating furiously in her chest as the adrenaline flowed through her veins. “He tried to take me down,” she told Chief Nunan. “But I took a martial arts class with Karen Denton, and I learned some new moves. As soon as I realized it was about to get dangerous, I sprung into action.”

“I’m so grateful that you are alright,” Chief Nunan said. “And I am thrilled that the mugger has been apprehended. Meghan, you should be so proud of yourself for your bravery under such duress.”

Meghan shrugged. “I did what I had to do,” she told Chief Nunan, retying her undone ponytail as Lawrence came over. “I knew that I had to stay safe, and I knew that I had to help keep that mugger from hurting anyone else in town.”

“Meghan,” Lawrence exclaimed as he studied her face. “I told Jack that I would make sure you were safe while he is away, but here you are again! He is going to kill me. Are you okay?”

Meghan nodded. “I was going to the bus stop to give my employee her scarf,” she told him. “He came out of nowhere. It was so scary. He tore my purse from my arm, and he threatened me.”

Chief Nunan held out her hand. “Hold on, Meghan. I know you are upset, but let’s get some paper over here. I want to make sure we record every single detail of your statement. This mugger could possibly be a killer, and I am going to make every effort to bring him to justice.”

Meghan agreed. “Of course,” she said as Lawrence retrieved a pen from the squad car. “Let me start at the beginning…”

It was nearly three in the morning by the time Meghan arrived home. She was exhausted from the ordeal with the mugger, but while she could hardly keep her eyes open, she was not ready to fall asleep. Still feeling shaken, she pulled out her phone and dialed Jackie’s number.

“Meghan?” Jackie answered groggily. “What’s up? What time is it?”

“It’s late, Jackie,” she told her friend. “It’s really late.”

“You sound upset,” she said. “What’s going on?”

“The mugger found me again,” Meghan informed Jackie.

“WHAT? Are you alright? What happened? Oh, Meghan! Where are you?”

“I’m home,” she said. “I’m safe in bed. Lawrence arrested the mugger, and that low-life is sitting in a jail cell right now.”

“Officer Griffin was there?” Jackie cooed. “Handsome Lawrence came to your rescue?”

“Yes, he did,” she replied. “As did Chief Nunan. They were both helpful. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. It’s a small town, and I wanted to tell you myself before someone else got the word around to you.”

“Officer Griffin,” Jackie said dreamily. “It would be so nice to be saved by him. You lucky duck.”

Meghan was frustrated by Jackie’s response. She had expected her friend to be concerned about her, but it seemed like Jackie was more preoccupied with thoughts of Lawrence rather than being a caring friend.

“I have some other news for you,” she said curtly. “I talked with Mariah Cooper.”

“Her?” Jackie laughed. “What did she have to say? Did she throw a fit like her friend, Rosie?”

“Actually, it was the opposite,” she told her. “I explained to Mariah about what happened with Rosie at the salon. Mariah felt really bad about the whole thing. She wrote a blank check for you. She wants you to be properly compensated for your time and efforts, Jackie.”

Meghan could hear the excitement in Jackie’s voice. “You’re joking,” she declared. “The Mariah Cooper wrote a blank check for me? I get to decide how much I get paid in the final check?”

“Yeah, that is what she said,” Meghan shared. “I can drop it off to you tomorrow.”

“Please do,” she replied. “A blank check from Mariah Cooper? What kind of dream world am I living in?”

14

“You had him in a headlock?” Pamela asked in disbelief as Meghan recounted the incident of the mugger from the night before. “Meghan, I didn’t know you were that strong.”

“I didn’t either,” Meghan admitted. “Honestly, it was the class with Mrs. Sheridan that saved me; Mrs. Sheridan talked about staying calm and in control when in a fight, and I made sure I was keeping my breath even and my body steady.”

“There’s no way Mrs. Sheridan saved you,” argued Jamie, the local handyman who had stopped by to fix a leaky faucet in Meghan’s bathroom. “Sally Sheridan is an old bat with a cane. I don’t believe for one second that she could teach you how to fight someone.”

Meghan shook her head. “You should have seen me last night,” she said as Pamela, Trudy, and Jamie listened with wide eyes. “I was like a true martial arts warrior. I went left and right, I avoided his blows, and I even managed to get him to fall on the ground. Mrs. Sheridan may not have taught me the fanciest kicks, or the hardest punches, but she taught me how to stay composed and how to use my momentum. Thanks to her, that mugger is in jail, and I am sitting here talking with you all today.”

Jamie laughed. “I’m glad you are alright, Meghan, but I still don’t believe that Sally Sheridan taught you anything related to martial arts.”

“Is that so, Jamie?”

Everyone gasped as Mrs. Sheridan hobbled into the bakery, her face dark. “Say that to my face, Jamie. I dare you.”

Jamie rose to his feet and offered Mrs. Sheridan his chair. “Sally, please, take my seat. I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.”

Mrs. Sheridan glared at Jamie, but then turned to Meghan. “I came in today to return some of the peanut brittle I bought two weeks ago,” she said. “The peanuts are too hard, and the brittle is too chewy.”

Meghan shrugged. “You know my rule, Mrs. Sheridan. I can’t do returns past the one week mark.”

Mrs. Sheridan rolled her eyes. “Exceptions can always be made, especially for your sensei.”

Jamie chuckled. “Her sensei? Sally, you crack me up.”

Mrs. Sheridan moved quickly, dropping her cane and scuttling to the left of Jamie. She reached her hands over his head and took hold of his ears. “Owww,” Jamie complained. “Get off of me, Sally.”

Mrs. Sheridan continued to fight, using her legs to hoist her cane up. She wrapped it around Jamie’s legs, and he fell to the ground. “That’s Mrs. Sheridan to you, Jamie,” she said with satisfaction as she surveyed her handiwork. “Old Mrs. Sheridan knows a thing or two about martial arts, and I suggest that you never again suggest otherwise. Ladies, it was a pleasure seeing you. Have a nice day.”

Everyone watched in awe as Mrs. Sheridan picked up her cane from beside where Jamie lay and hobbled out of the bakery. “She knows her stuff,” Meghan confirmed. “She doesn’t mess around.”

Meghan’s phone rang, and she saw that Lawrence Griffin was calling her. “I have to take this,” she told the group. “Lawrence is calling.”

“Lawrence?” Pamela asked dreamily as Meghan walked away.

“Meghan, it’s me,” Lawrence said. “Can you stop by and answer some questions? It shouldn’t take too long.”

“No problem,” she replied as she felt her phone buzz. “I have a call on the other line, but I plan on dropping by in a few minutes.”

“Great,” said Lawrence. “See you soon.”

“Meghan,” Jackie said as Meghan pushed the button to switch over her call. “Hey, can I stop by? I want to grab that check from you.”

“I’m actually on my way out,” she told Jackie. “I have some errands to run, but you are welcome to come with me. I have to stop by the police station to talk with Lawrence.”

“Count me in,” Jackie said immediately.

Meghan thought for a moment, remembering how frustrated she had been with Jackie’s reaction to the mugging incident from the previous night. Meghan did not feel like watching Jackie fawn over Lawrence, and she quickly changed her mind. “Actually, I forgot, I am not supposed to take visitors,” she said, cringing as the white lie came out of her mouth. “I’ll just drop the check by after.”

At the station, Meghan was escorted into Chief Nunan’s office. “Meghan,” she said warmly as Meghan entered. “Good to see you. I hope you have recovered from last night?”

“I’m still feeling a bit shaky,” Meghan admitted as she sat in the wooden chair across Chief Nunan’s desk. “But I’m feeling better. I slept well and had a big breakfast, so I feel like a new woman today.”

“That’s good,” Chief Nunan said, her blue eyes filled with relief. “It can be quite a scare to be mugged, but you really fought him off. We had to have him sent to the clinic at the jail because you fought him so hard. I am impressed. You are a lot stronger than you look, Meghan.”

Meghan smiled. “I did what I had to do,” she shrugged. “If I didn’t take care of myself, no one else was going to.”

Chief Nunan bobbed her head. “I just wanted to thank you personally for apprehending the suspect,” she told Meghan. “We are very sure that we have caught the mugger.”

“Very sure?” Meghan asked. “Not one hundred percent sure?”

Chief Nunan sighed. “The mugger is refusing to confess,” she admitted. “He insists that he did not mug you, and he insists that he is innocent.”

“What? But he tried to rip the bag from my arm. He tried to attack me. How can he insist that he wasn’t trying to mug me?”

The Chief shook her head. “He’s been difficult to deal with, that’s for sure. He has been asking for a lawyer, and legally, we cannot charge him quite yet.”

Meghan rose from her seat, her face hot with anger. “Let me identify him,” she demanded. “I will identify him in front of you, and in front of everyone. The man who Lawrence arrested last night tried to mug me, and I will not let him walk free.”

The Chief agreed. “We can have you look at him,” she said. “It might be alarming, though. I just want to make sure you are sure that you want to see him.”

“I do,” she confirmed. “I want him brought to justice, and if this helps the process move faster, then I will do it.”

Chief Nunan picked up the telephone on her desk and spoke to the operator. “A guard is coming to pick us up,” she told Meghan after hanging up. “We’ll be behind a glass barrier. He won’t be able to see you, but you will be able to clearly see him.”

Meghan was led to a small room in the basement of the police station. The lights were low, and there was a long, thin window stretching across one of the walls. “When I say the word, he will be brought into that room,” the Chief said, pointing through the window at a small concrete room.

“Are you ready?”

Meghan nodded, and the Chief spoke into her walkie-talkie. Almost immediately, a man was brought into the small concrete room.

“That’s him,’ Meghan whispered immediately. “I would know him anywhere. I can tell from his eyes and his stature that it is him.”

“Are you absolutely certain?”

“Yes,” Meghan insisted. “I have no doubt.”

Chief Nunan spoke into the walkie-talkie again, and the man was led away. “Other victims of the muggings will be brought in to see him,” the Chief told Meghan as they walked back to her office. “We don’t have enough evidence to charge him with murder yet, but we are trying to connect the dots. From what you’ve told me, he sounds merciless, and I have a feeling that he is responsible for Cathy Thomas’ death.”

Meghan sighed. “How long until you can prove it?”

Chief Nunan shrugged. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But we’re working on it, Meghan. I promise you, we are working on it.”

15

That evening, Meghan and Jackie bundled up in their winter coats and took the dogs for a walk along the beach. Although it was sunny, the wind was sharp, and Meghan cringed as Fiesta and Siesta shivered along the shore.

“I think we need to call it a day,” she told Jackie. “Dash is going fine, but the little dogs look so cold.”

Jackie nodded. “I feel like an icicle myself,” she admitted. “And besides, you’ve been going on and on about Jack for the last hour. All of this love talk is going to make me crazy.”

“I’m sorry,” Meghan said, blushing. “I just miss him so much. He is the best, Jackie. When I told him about the mugger being apprehended, he was so worried about me. He sent flowers and chocolates to my apartment! I know he feels so bad that he isn’t here to look out for me.”

“I wish I had someone to look out for me,” Jackie said wistfully as she stared off into the horizon. “What you and Jack have is so special. I just want someone to look after me.”

Meghan grinned mischievously. “I know that you have a big crush on Lawrence,” she told Jackie. “It’s so obvious. Let me fix you up with him. When Jack gets back, we could do that double date! He could be the one for you, Jackie.”

Jackie smoothed her hair. “I don’t know,” she said softly. “I’ve been out of the dating game for so long. I don’t know if I could handle a relationship. I don’t know what to say, or what to do. You’ve heard me talk about him, Meghan. I can hardly keep it together when he is around. I don’t know what I would say to him on a proper date.”

Meghan shrugged. “That’s what makes it fun,” she insisted. “The mystery, the romance, and the unknown is so exciting. I think you should give him a chance, Jackie. I think you two would really hit it off.”

“Hey,” she murmured, pointing to two figures in the distance. “Look over there.”

Meghan’s eyes widened. She squinted, trying to make out who was rapidly approaching them. “Can you see who it is?”

“It’s Mariah and Rosie,” Jackie whispered.

Mariah and Rosie jogged toward them, their ponytails bouncing in sync with their step. “Girls,” Mariah greeted them. “How are we doing today?”

Jackie smiled. “So good. Thank you so much for your kindness. That check was greatly appreciated….”

Rosie looked down at her designer running shoes, and Mariah gave her a sharp jab in the side. Rose muttered something, but her words were unintelligible.

“Say it louder,” Mariah prodded.

“I’m sorry I was rude at your salon,” Rosie said quietly. “I was in quite a mood that day, and I shouldn’t have been so terrible. I am very sorry.”

Mariah nodded at Rosie. “That was the right thing to do,” she told her friend. “Now, we can talk about other matters. Jackie? I’ve been thinking, and I was wondering if you would be open to doing another pampering session? My entourage wants to do something to honor Cathy, and we think a day spent receiving massages, doing manis and pedis, and being taken care of would be the best way to honor her.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. She looked over at Jackie, who was thinking about Mariah’s request.

“Thoughts?” Mariah asked. “You did such a nice job last time, and your team was a good fit. They were very professional and clean, and I want to hire you again.”

Rosie sighed. “What?” Mariah asked her. “You’ve been moody all day.”

Rosie crossed her arms in front of her chest. “It’s a waste of time,” she breathed to Mariah. “We have a busy schedule for the next few weeks, and I don’t think we can afford to lounge around for a day when your new exhibit is due at the Met next Monday.”

Mariah narrowed her eyes at Rosie. “It’s what Cathy would have wanted,” she sharply insisted. “Cathy loved being pampered, and she would want us all to remember her like that.”

Rosie scoffed. “If you say so.”

Mariah glared. “I do say so. Invite our closest friends and make the arrangements.”

Turning to Jackie and Meghan, Mariah winked. “Sometimes, you have to be firm,” she shrugged. “Anyway, I hope to see you both there. Meghan? You could drop by with your sweet friend, Pamela. She is a cutie, and I’m sure she would love a pampering session.”

Meghan wrinkled her forehead as Mariah and Rosie began to jog away. “That was strange,” she said to Jackie. “There seemed to be some serious tension between them. I wonder what Rosie’s problem is. She seems so different than Mariah.”

Jackie scowled. “I think that Rosie is just a jerk.”

Meghan shook her head. “I can’t imagine it is easy being the assistant to someone who has been your best friend,” she said, trying to consider Rosie’s side.

Dash began to bark, and Meghan and Jackie noticed the two women jogging back toward them.

“Hey again,” Mariah said. “I forgot to ask you something. Jackie? Would it be possible to include a few more things in the pampering session?”

Jackie nodded. “Your wish is my command. What did you have in mind?”

Mariah grinned. “We need something suitable for a man,” she said.

Meghan smiled. “Your boyfriend?”

Mariah shook her head. “Ron Thomas? The graphic designer? Perhaps you have heard of him?”

16

“Meghan? Meghan?

Meghan looked up from the pot of chocolate sauce she was stirring to find Trudy staring at her. “Oh, Trudy, were you talking to me?”

Trudy nodded. “I’ve been trying to get your attention for fifteen minutes. You look a little lost.”

Meghan sighed. “Between everything that has happened with the mugger and Cathy Thomas, I am spent,” she told Trudy. “And I miss Jack. I’m counting down the hours until he returns.”

“When does he get back?”

“He gets home from his training tomorrow. It will be so nice to have him home. He’s loved New Orleans, but with everything going on, I am ready to have him back.

Trudy thought for a moment. “I have an idea,” she announced. “What if we make a treat for him? A King Cake? Those have been selling out like crazy lately, and they are famous in New Orleans. We can give Jack a little taste of Mardi Gras right here in Sandy Bay!”

Meghan’s eyes sparkled. “That is an amazing idea,” she commended Trudy.

The two women got to work, but as Meghan was adjusting the temperature on the oven, Trudy chastised her. “Meghan,” she began. “I don’t mean to be rude, but you are not helping here.”

Meghan’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?” she asked, tucking her dark hair up into a high ponytail. “I’m turning on the oven.”

Trudy shook her head. “You’ve been over there messing around with it for ten minutes. Meghan, you’re still looking lost. Why don’t you call it a day? Pamela’s shift starts in an hour, and I can manage until then. I’m worried about you.”

Meghan closed her eyes. “You’re right,” she said. “I need to accept your help and take some time to clear my head. Trudy, thank you for being so understanding.”

Trudy nodded. “That is what I am here for.”

“What should I do with the rest of my day?” Meghan thought to herself as she removed her apron and wandered upstairs. “The dogs need to be groomed before Jack gets home. I think I will take them to the pet store for a wash and some treats.”

Meghan bundled up and harnessed the dogs into their leashes. She hated to see their faces as the wind chapped their skin, but Meghan knew that they would ultimately enjoy the pampering at the pet store.

“Come on, Dash,” Meghan urged Jack’s dog as he sniffed a fire hydrant.

“Meghan?”

Meghan looked up to find Jackie standing in front of her. “Hey,” Meghan greeted her. “How are you?”

“Busy, busy, busy,” Jackie informed her. “I am on my way to the hotel. Tonight is the big night for the pampering session to honor Cathy.”

Meghan gasped. “I totally forgot,” she cried.

Jackie held up a finger to pause the conversation. “One moment,” she mouthed as her phone rang.  “This is Jackie.”

Meghan watched as Jackie’s face fell. “What? Are you serious? Don’t you understand how important this event is to me? Don’t you realize how much Mariah Cooper is paying us? Yes, I understand. Yes, I agree that family comes first….”

Jackie hung up the phone and looked at Meghan with a panicked expression. “That was my assistant,” she told her. “She isn’t going to make it tonight. Something came up.”

Meghan shrugged. “At least you have two assistants,” she said.

Jackie shook her head. “The other one can’t make it, either. I will be the only one at the event. I can’t do it by myself. Meghan! Mariah is going to be so angry. I already signed a contract. What if she sues me? I’ll be in ruins.”

Meghan took her friend by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. “Jackie,” she said. “Take a deep breath. I will help you.”

Jackie’s eyes widened. “You don’t know anything about hair. You can hardly manage your own hair!”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. “That wasn’t very nice,” she chided.

“Sorry,” Jackie said, wiping her nose on her sleeve. “That was rude.”

Meghan continued. “Give me a crash course in the basics. I can do my best to keep everyone happy, and together, we’ll figure this out.”

Jackie scratched her head, but then, she grinned. “I have the perfect plan,” she announced. “I’m going to turn it into a workshop. It’ll be a hands-on experience! Everyone can have a turn learning how to do the hair and nails, and then, we’ll try it on each other. What do you think?”

Seeing the worry in Jackie’s face, Meghan pasted a smile on her own face. “I think it is a great idea,” she assured her friend.

“Let’s just hope it doesn’t end like the last pampering event,” Jackie muttered beneath her breath. “Let’s hope it doesn’t go anything like the last pampering event….”

17

When Meghan and Jackie arrived at the hotel, Lewis Templeton was waiting to greet them at the door. “Welcome, ladies,” he said, looking more like his former polished, refined self than Meghan had seen him in awhile. “I regret to inform you that the elevators are undergoing some maintenance today, and you will need to take the stairs to get up to Ms. Cooper’s suite.”

Jackie narrowed her eyes at Lewis. “We have boxes upon boxes of gifts and tools to bring up,” she informed him. “How am I supposed to get my things to the suite without arriving a sweaty mess?”

Lewis pursed his lips. “I do apologize, but there is nothing I can do besides have some of our bellboys help you.”

Lewis snapped his fingers, and four bellboys appeared, each in a gold uniform with green trim. “Boys, these ladies have things to carry up.”

Jackie pushed her way to the front of the group. “I’ll lead the way,” she declared. “Meghan, you bring up the rear.”

Before Meghan ascended the stairs, Lewis discretely pulled her aside. “I heard that you were instrumental in apprehending that terrible mugger,” he whispered as Meghan nodded. “I’ve heard something, and I think I need to share. I know you have connections with the police, and I want to make sure someone knows…”

Meghan’s eyes widened as Lewis began to speak. “A guest at the hotel who checked out today said that she heard an argument take place the night of the murder.”

“An argument?”

Lewis nodded. “Yes. She reported that it sounded like the argument was between two people who knew each other.”

Meghan wrinkled her nose. “Did she know that for certain?”

Lewis shrugged. “I don’t know. She mentioned it in passing, but it seemed important.”

Meghan tilted her head. “Have you reported this to the police?”

Lewis shook his head. “I can’t report every detail of everything I hear at a posh hotel,” he said. “But I thought that you could let the police know?”

Meghan pursed her lips. “I’ll do what I can,” she said as she moved to walk upstairs.

As she walked, she reached for her cell phone to call Lawrence.

“Officer Griffin,” he answered.

“Lawrence? It’s Meghan. I have some information you might be interested in.”

Ten minutes later, Meghan walked into Mariah’s suite. She was out of breath from walking up the stairs, and as she entered the room, she wondered why she had even agreed to come.

“Meghan Truman,” Ron Thomas greeted her as she peered around the sitting room. “Lovely to see you. I was just about to give a speech.”

Meghan smiled. “Sounds like I’m here at the right time then.”

Meghan stepped to the back of the room as Ron clinked a champagne flute with a tiny silver fork. “Excuse me? Can I have the attention of the room?”

All voices hushed, and every head turned to Ron. “Thank you,” he continued. “I would like to make a toast to my sister, Cathy. Cathy was a good woman with a wild heart; she was always traveling, making friends, and having adventures.”

“More like getting into trouble,” Meghan heard Rosie Jakes giggle to Tia, one of the women who had been at the bakery a few days before.

“My sister is no longer with us, but she would be pleased with the way her dearest friends are celebrating with her tonight...and her boring old brother!”

The crowd laughed.

“So enjoy yourselves, ladies. Relax, kick back, and think of my darling sister as you mix, mingle, and have a lovely evening. Cheers.”

The group of women clapped as Ron sat down. Jackie popped up and made her way to the front of the room. “Welcome, ladies,” she announced. “Tonight, we will be doing a beauty workshop as an homage to Cathy. If everyone could pair up? We will begin in two minutes.”

Meghan looked around the room as the women dashed to get into pairs. Jackie slid beside her.

“Rosie has no partner,” Jackie murmured. “I’m not going to let that woman ruin my night again. Go help her.”

Meghan dutifully made her way to Rosie and smiled. “Partners?”

Rosie looked Meghan up and down, but she nodded. “Fine.”

They sat down together as Jackie gave instructions. “We are going to do global design scheme in honor of Cathy’s travels,” she announced. “I will be coming around with polish and pictures of flags from the different countries Cathy visited in her lifetime.”

“That’s a cute idea,” Meghan said as Rosie rolled her eyes.

“Seems a little tacky to me. I’m going to let you go first,” Rosie told Meghan. “Here, get comfortable.”

Rosie rolled up Meghan’s sleeves and looked at her nails. “Your nails are chipped,” she told Meghan.

“I just had them done,” Meghan protested.

“Looks like this pampering session is perfect timing, because you need them done again.”

Meghan said nothing. She watched Rosie as she worked. “You’re good at this,” Meghan commented.

Rosie cracked a rare smile. “As an assistant, you have to be good at everything,” she told Meghan. “Can I tell you a secret?”

Meghan nodded, hoping that Rosie was finally warming to her.

“I’m leaving Mariah soon,” Rosie whispered. “I’m going to strike out on my own and start my own talent agency. Mariah will be furious when she finds out, but I just bought a space in Portland today where I can meet with clients.”

Meghan’s eyes widened. “That’s a huge deal,” she said. “Are you excited?”

Rosie nodded. “I cannot wait. I think being out on my own will be the best thing to ever happen to me.”

Meghan smiled. “That’s how I felt when I opened my bakery,” she said dreamily, thinking of her early days in Sandy Bay. “It was the best thing I ever did for myself, and I have no regrets. Following your dreams is scary, but it sounds like you are well on your way to making your dreams come true.”

Rosie beamed. “Thanks,” she murmured. “I needed someone to tell me that. Say, let’s do my nails after all. I think some fresh polish will be perfect for my fresh start.”

Meghan giggled, and she gently tucked Rosie’s lavender sweater sleeves up, exposing her thin wrist.

“Oh, let me take my bracelet off,” Rosie said, slipping off a silver braided band around her right wrist. “Meghan? Can you take this for me and set it down beside your phone?”

Meghan gasped as Rosie handed her the bracelet. Meghan fingered the intricate woven designs, her heart pounding.

“Meghan? What’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Rosie looked from Meghan’s eyes to the bracelet, the color draining from her face. Without saying a word, she rose from the table, and sprinted out of the room.

“Where is she running off to?” Jackie joked as she stopped by Meghan’s table. “Did you scare her off?”

Meghan shook her head. “Jackie,” she whispered. “I need you to call Officer Griffin.”

Jackie giggled. “Anytime, girlfriend. But seriously, why do you ask?”

Meghan stared up at Jackie. “I think Rosie Jakes might be the murderer.”

Jackie’s eyes widened. She reached for her cell phone and dialed Lawrence’s number. “Officer Griffin? Lawrence? It’s Jackie…Meghan’s friend? There’s a situation at the hotel, and Meghan wanted me to call.”

Meghan watched as Jackie nodded, and then handed her the phone. “Meghan?” Lawrence asked. “What’s going on?”

“It’s Rosie Jakes,” Meghan said. “I think she’s the murderer.”

Lawrence paused. “How certain are you?”

“Certain enough,” Meghan replied. “As she just escaped from the hotel room where we all are.”

“Can you go after her?” Lawrence asked. “Meghan, can you make sure she doesn’t leave the hotel? I’ll be over there with my crew in just a few minutes. I just need you to make sure she doesn’t leave.”

Meghan threw the phone at Jackie and ran to the door of the suite, pushing it open and sprinting into the hallway. “Rosie?” Meghan called as she pushed the elevator button. “How could I have forgotten? It’s broken,” she muttered as she anxiously ran a hand through her hair. “If she couldn’t take the elevator, she must have…”

Meghan noticed the door to the stairway was ajar, and she stepped into the dimly-lit stairwell. “Rosie?” she called out as she heard thudding a few floors down. “She’s running down the stairs. I can hear her,” Meghan whispered to herself as she began to descend the stairs.

“Rosie! Come back. I need to talk to you!” she shouted as she hurried down the stairs, her face growing sweaty and her breath difficult to catch.

When Meghan finally reached the bottom of the staircase, she barreled through the door and into the lobby. Lewis Templeton was waiting for her, tapping his foot in annoyance.

“Meghan Truman,” he chided. “What on Earth do you think you are doing? I heard you yelling and screaming for Rosie Jakes, as did everyone in my lobby.”

Meghan wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. She gasped for breath, and bent over, resting her hands on her knees. “Lewis, have you seen Rosie Jakes?”

Lewis glared at her. “She flew through the stairwell door just a moment ago. Why do you need Rosie Jakes? Why are you causing such a scene in my hotel?”

“I’ll take it from here, Sir.”

Meghan breathed a sigh of relief as Lawrence approached. “Lawrence,” Meghan said. “Rosie just came down the stairs.”

Lewis crossed his arms. “I think the both of you need to leave,” he ordered, looking from Meghan to Lawrence in disgust. “You two are causing a scene. First, Meghan screams and runs down my stairwell, and now, a police officer is in my lobby? After the weeks we’ve had here, we don’t need this, not at my hotel.”

Lawrence rested his hand on his belt, making his gun visible to Lewis. “I recommend you step aside, Sir,” Lawrence said coolly. “You are interfering with an investigation, and I could take you in for defying an officer of the law.”

Lewis’ face turned pale. “What do you need from me?”

Lawrence narrowed his eyes at the hotel manager. “If you saw Rosie Jakes, I need you to point me in her direction immediately.”

Lewis nodded obediently. “She ran down the stairs and into the lobby,” he explained. “I saw her run into the coat check office, just left of the bathrooms.”

“That’s all I need from you,” Lawrence told Lewis. “Meghan, let’s go.”

Lawrence and Meghan ran into the lobby and opened the door of the coat check office. Lawrence peered left, and then right. “There’s no sign of her,” he told Meghan.

Meghan, smelling expensive perfume Rosie had been wearing during the party only moments ago, shook her head. “She’s here,” Meghan responded. “I know it.”

Meghan eyed a gold coat rack filled with mink coats, and she pushed the expensive jackets apart to find Rosie Jakes cowering behind them.

“Rosie Jakes,” Lawrence said with authority. “You are under arrest.”

18

“This is the most delicious thing I have ever tasted,” Jack declared as he lifted his fork to his mouth. “Meghan, your King Cake is to die for.”

Meghan beamed. She was thrilled to have her boyfriend home; Meghan had picked him up from the airport at noon, and they were going to spend the rest of the weekend together.

“He is even more handsome than I remember,” she thought to herself as Jack licked his lips, smiling at her with his bright blue eyes. “I practically melt every time I look at him.”

Jack placed a hand atop of Meghan’s. “I don’t think I ever want to leave you again,” he told her as she smiled at him. “I went out of town for ten days, and in that time, my girl was mugged twice, apprehended a murderer, and learned martial arts.”

“Well, the mugger wasn’t the murderer after all,” Meghan corrected Jack. “Trudy thought it was Ron at first; she didn’t think he seemed upset enough after his sister’s death, and given their family fortune, he stood to inherit a lot when she passed.”

“That makes sense,” he agreed.

“But then, I wondered if Mariah had something to do with the murder,” Meghan shared. “Pamela mentioned it first, and once I thought about it, I agreed with her. Mariah seemed to know a lot about Cathy’s colorful past, and she was being very coy about it when we talked with her.”

Jack nodded. “So what do you think about the case now, Detective Truman?” he teased, his blue eyes sparkling.

Meghan took a deep breath. “I was convinced that the mugger was the murderer,” she told Jack, her voice shaky as she thought of the two incidents with the malicious man. “I had no doubt after he tried to take off with my purse the second time.”

“But then…” Jack prodded.

“But then, I saw Rosie’s bracelet at the pampering event,” she revealed. “She was wearing a bracelet that matched the one that the mugger dropped. I couldn’t believe it!”

Jack shook his head. “I can’t believe rich girls like Rosie Jakes would resort to murder. How did Chief Nunan get a confession out of her?”

“Her boyfriend, the mugger, turned against her.”

“What?” Jack asked, his eyes bulging in disbelief. “The mugger? Wealthy Rosie Jakes was dating a low-life mugger? The same jerk who tried to rob you twice?”

“She was,” Meghan confirmed. “And she tried to throw him under the bus. She kept insisting that they had the wrong person, and something clicked for Officer Nunan. The Chief wondered if Rosie and the mugger might have a connection. Chief Nunan bluffed and told the mugger that Rosie was blaming him for everything, and then, the mugger spilled the beans.”

Jack shook his head. “Unbelievable…”

Meghan nodded. “Get this: his name is Lenny, and he was Rosie’s current boyfriend, and an ex of Cathy’s. He hated Cathy, but he didn’t want to kill her. Cathy and Rosie had an argument, and in one of her fits of jealousy and rage, Rosie killed Cathy after the pampering session.”

Jack shook his head. “Those people sound twisted,” he murmured.

“They are,” Meghan agreed. “Chief Nunan told me that Rosie cracked faster than an egg against a fry pan. To get a confession from Rosie, they told her that Lenny turned against her, and she blurted out her part in the whole mess.”

Jack whistled. “What a load of drama!”

Meghan rolled her eyes. “And, there is more! Yesterday, right after Rosie was arrested, a news report announced that Rosie had been stealing from Mariah. She had been embezzling funds in order to open her talent agency. From the phone records, it appears that Cathy knew about the money and was threatening to tell. Rosie had to do away with her to maintain her status and image.”

Jack leaned back in his seat. “You know,” he began. “Sometimes, I think it would be nice to have a million dollars, or even two million dollars,” he shared. “I would like to have some money to buy a nice boat, or go on a ski trip with the boys, or buy some pretty things for my girl. But, at the end of the day, I would rather have good character than a full bank account. It’s crazy what some of these wealthy people will do.”

“It is,” Meghan agreed.

“Speaking of wealthy people,” he said. “What about Ron Thomas? Did he have anything to do with Rosie’s deception?”

Meghan shook her head. “He finally flew home to Wisconsin to be with his family and bury Cathy,” she said. “After the news came out about Rosie, he was inconsolable...I think the impact of last week’s events finally sank in.”

Jack buried his head in his hands. “I’m never leaving you again,” he declared. “I’m happy you were able to fend for yourself, but I hate that you went through all of this alone.”

“I’m tough,” she insisted. “I missed you so much, but it was nice to come to my own rescue this week.”

Meghan’s cell phone rang, and she glanced down at the screen to see Jackie’s name appear. “It’s Jackie,” she murmured.

“Take it,” he urged her. “You said that things have been tense between you two. Why don’t you clear the air?”

“Okay,” Meghan agreed.

“Meghan,” Jackie said as she answered. “Hey, I just wanted to apologize…”

Meghan smiled. “Jackie, I wanted to apologize, too.”

“No,” Jackie replied. “You have nothing to apologize for. Meghan, I’ve really let money blind me lately. I’ve been jealous of my wealthy clients, and trying to live like them, and it isn’t working for me. The deal with Mariah sent me through a loop, and I am sorry for the way I acted when I got my checks.”

“It’s okay,” Meghan told her friend. “We all can go a little crazy when it comes to money. You’re my friend, Jackie, and whether or not you have a Honda Civic or an Audi, you are still my friend.”

“About the Audi,” Jackie said sheepishly. “I took it back. I decided to hire a financial advisor to invest the rest of the money from Mariah. It seemed like a good idea.”

“That’s great!” Meghan said. “I’m really proud of you, Jackie.”

“I’m proud of me, too,” she admitted. “You’re a good influence on me, Meghan, and I’m glad we’re friends.”

“Me too,” she agreed as Jack mouthed hello at Meghan. “By the way, Jack says hello.”

“He’s home?” she cried. “Sorry I bothered you. Go have fun with your man!”

“I will,” Meghan said gleefully. “I’ll talk to you later!”

Jack kissed Meghan on the forehead. “That’s my girl,” he said as he reached into his police satchel. “So, I made a grave mistake, Meghan…”

Meghan furrowed her brow. “What?”

“I brought a special surprise for you,” Jack told her.

“I don’t think surprises are ever mistakes,” Meghan giggled. “What did you bring for me?”

Jack blushed. “Great minds think alike, I guess?” he said as he pulled out a tin of New Orleans’ King cake. “You made a King cake for me, and I brought one home for you.”

Meghan laughed. She opened the tin containing the King cake from New Orleans. “This is a sweet surprise,” she said. “I never get to just enjoy treats. I’ll tell you what, Babe...let’s put my cake away, and let’s dig into yours.”

“Deal,” he said with a smile. He leaned over the table and softly kissed Meghan on the lips. “This is the sweetest homecoming I could have asked for,” he whispered. “Truly, the sweetest.”

The End

Thank You!

Thank you for reading King Cake and Grave Mistakes! I really hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I had writing it!

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